The International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have struggled to reach a mutually agreeable solution as the competition approaches rapidly, now less than 75 days away.
Initially, there was hope that the final schedule for the event, set for February 19-March 9, would be announced on December 11. However, it appears that no such announcement is forthcoming, and a meeting among ICC Board members, originally slated for December 7, has been postponed due to disagreements on the competition’s format.
This meeting has yet to be rescheduled. Although there were initial uncertainties regarding the tournament’s format, sources indicate that the upcoming event will be held in a hybrid model, consisting of 10 matches in Pakistan and potentially five in either the UAE or Sri Lanka.
The primary hurdle preventing a resolution is the BCCI’s unwillingness to accept Pakistan’s request for the same format to be used when India hosts global events in the next three years.
The BCCI’s position seems to have the support of broadcasters, who have made investments based on territory-specific games in India.
Broadcasters argue that their financial engagements hinge on a certain number of matches involving India, which are the largest revenue contributors in world cricket and yield higher returns when played in India. The PCB faces challenges in accepting the current situation.
It has taken a firm ‘no-hybrid’ position that would be difficult to change without satisfactory compensation. A compromise was proposed involving a tri-series with India and another country, but this was rejected by both the BCCI and the ICC.
The ICC is already lagging in its contractual responsibilities to stakeholders, particularly regarding specific deadlines. With the 90-day timeline having elapsed, broadcasters are feeling the pressure to effectively promote the tournament.
If the deadlock continues, there may be renewed discussions about shifting the Champions Trophy to a T20 format, which is perceived to be easier and quicker to market compared to ODIs, which are losing popularity.
