ICC to finalise hybrid model for 2025 Champions Trophy on Saturday: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Okays a blend style for the forthcoming Champions Trophy, set to be held originally in Pakistan. India Today reveals this plan, saying games are to be held in India-Pakistan matches in Dubai. This came about thanks to agreements between BCCI and PCB. Further, the report says, Pakistan won't go to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Instead, the league stage match between both countries will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The PCB won't get any financial payback. However, the Y secured rights to host an ICC Women's tournament post 2027. The report says the Emirates Cricket Board kept a close eye on the chat between the two boards. It seems likely the India vs Pakistan match at the Champions Trophy in Dubai will happen.

The big event runs from February 19 to March 9. It doesn't follow a round robin layout; eight teams split into two groups. The top two from each group go to the semifinals. A similar blend style was used at the men's 50-over Asia Cup last year.

Pakistan hosted, and India played games in Colombo, including the semi and final. Rumors floated about the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 going T20I style, but the report refutes this. "Switching to T20I would dent significantly," a source tells India Today. "Star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who've stepped back from international T20Is, could not play. This would affect the tournament's attraction," they added.

One significant move the BCCI has reportedly agreed to is allowing the Indian team to trek to Colombo for the India-Pakistan face-off in the 2026 T20 World Cup. That might seem less than perfect given the whopping $750 million that Star, the broadcasters, spends ICC events neutral venues in the current cycle. This decision is a critical factor in the PCB agreeing to the ICC hybrid model.