The Champions Trophy 2025 is just over two months away, but it is still unclear where the tournament will be held. While Pakistan are the designated hosts for the tournament, India’s reluctance to travel has left the ICC looking for other options.
Amidst all the chaos and speculation, the ICC’s host broadcaster Star India has written to the board confirming its stance. Star India wrote about the complications that the ICC may face if India does not play in the tournament.
Read also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia start new ICC race amid CT chaos
Star India writes to ICC amid Champions Trophy 2025 chaos
According to a report in TOI, Star India revealed the numbers if India do not play in the Champions Trophy. It is believed that the ICC has decided to sell the Indian market separately, while selling the media rights for a period of four years.
Selling India’s rights separately has generated a huge amount of revenue for the ICC, however, it ensures that India must be available for all ICC tournaments (if they qualify). The ICC’s deal with Star India amounts to a whopping 90% of the total worldwide revenue.
If India does not play in the Champions Trophy, the ICC will have to give 90 percent of the total value of the media rights, $750 million. Similarly, if Pakistan withdraws, ICC members will face a loss of less than 10 percent of the total amount of media rights.
It is clear that the ICC members would not want India to be out of the tournament at any cost. This is why the ICC is so adamant about ensuring India’s participation in the tournament.
According to industry sources, the ICC can change the tournament at any time without difficulty in order to ensure its best interests. “The ICC has its rights to move the tournament to any country as long as it is in the interest of the ownership. The decision is not as complicated as it seems,” the report claimed.
Champions Trophy 2025 will not be cancelled: Sources
A source also revealed that the tournament cannot be canceled at any cost and the hybrid model could be the best way forward. He also claimed that the PCB may do the same as the BCCI in next year’s Asia Cup, however, the ball will be in the ACC’s court and not the ICC’s.
“There is no question of canceling the tournament. As for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying they will make a quid-pro with India when the Asia Cup arrives, let us be clear that the current matter is an ICC matter.”
“The Asia Cup is for the Asian Cricket Board to decide. Neither the federation is the same nor the broadcaster and it is a completely separate matter for the PCB,” the source added.
PCB wants a hybrid model for all ICC events in India
With India reaffirming its stance of not traveling to Pakistan, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is likely to be held in a hybrid model. While the PCB has almost agreed, they want the same for all the upcoming ICC events in India, indicating that Pakistan will not travel to India and play all their matches outside the country.
India is scheduled to host a no. of ICC events in the country in the coming cycle. India will host the 2026 T20 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup along with Bangladesh.
