- The Pakistan-India match will be held at a neutral stadium.
- Pakistan will not travel to India during the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- PCB will not receive any financial compensation: report.
The debate over next year’s Champions Trophy has come to an end as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly given the green light to a “reciprocal” hybrid model proposed by Pakistan due to India’s refusal to send its team to the neighboring country, Indian media reported. He claimed on Friday.
This development – considered a victory for Pakistan’s position – came in the wake of an agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to a report published in India Today.
The eight-team tournament hit a snag last month when the BCCI informed the ICC that their team would not compete in Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions.
Under the hybrid model, Pakistan will host the group matches, but their high-profile clash with India will be played at a neutral stadium. The final will be played at a neutral venue or Lahore depending on whether the Indian side qualifies or not.
Moreover, the publication – in its report – stated that the two cricket boards have reached a consensus on the 2026 T20 World Cup and have decided that Pakistan will not travel to India for the league stage match against India, which will instead be held in Colombo.
It was reported that the PCB will not receive any “financial compensation” for the arrangement, while Pakistan has also been awarded the hosting rights for the ICC Women’s Championship to be held after 2027.
“The agreement has been well received by all stakeholders, ensuring seamless planning of these landmark events while addressing logistical and geopolitical concerns,” she added.
The 2025 Champions Cup is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, followed by the final.
Earlier, sources claimed that the BCCI had objected to the reciprocity clause on hosting it and to the proposal to play the final in Lahore if India does not qualify.
The arch rivals only meet in multinational events organized by the ICC, with the last bilateral series taking place when Pakistan toured India in 2012-13. Pakistan also had to host the Asia Cup last year in a mixed format, with Sri Lanka hosting India’s matches and the final.
India is scheduled to co-host the next Twenty20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026 in addition to the Champions Trophy in 2029, and will also co-host the 2031 World Cup with Bangladesh.
Pakistan has not hosted an ICC event since the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
In recent years, the ICC has ensured that India plays Pakistan at least once in each of its international cricket events, ensuring a significant chunk of revenue from the game.
The India-Pakistan match in the 2023 World Cup received unprecedented attention, with 173 million viewers watching on Indian television and 225 million digital viewers.
The 2021 T20 World Cup match between the two sides reached 167 million viewers and generated 15.9 billion minutes of engagement in India alone, highlighting Pakistan’s role in generating cricket viewership and revenue numbers.