Champions Trophy: Final is over, Indian team will not go to Pakistan, ICC approves hybrid model

New Delhi. The tension over hosting the ICC Champions Trophy has finally ended. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that India will play its Champions Trophy matches at a neutral venue instead of host Pakistan. The same system will be applicable for Pakistan till 2027. Pakistan team will play the ICC tournament matches to be held in India at neutral venues.

The Champions Trophy is an ODI tournament, which is to be played for the first time since 2017. In the year 2017, Pakistan won the trophy by defeating India. It is a coincidence that the defending champion has also got the hosting of the tournament. The schedule of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be announced soon.

ICC said on the ongoing controversy over hosting the Champions Trophy, ‘The ICC Board has approved the hybrid model. Now, during the current cycle from 2024 to 2027 (which is to be hosted in India or Pakistan), all matches between India and Pakistan in ICC tournaments will be played at neutral venues. The Indian team will not tour Pakistan during this period. Similarly, Pakistan team will also not go to India. Apart from the Champions Trophy 2025, this system will be applicable in the Women’s World Cup and Men’s T20 World Cup. The Women’s World Cup is to be held in India next year. After this, India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2027.

India had refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy to be held in February-March due to security concerns. India had demanded to hold the match on hybrid model like the 2023 Asia Cup. In the Asia Cup 2023, India played its matches in Sri Lanka, while the host of the tournament was Pakistan.

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