ICC Champions Trophy 2025: 3 venues which ICC can choose to host India matches via hybrid model

The schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is not finalised yet.

The ICC Board meeting on Friday lasted less than 20 minutes and no decision was taken – and has not yet been taken yet at the time of writing – regarding the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

There are less than 100 days left for the tournament’s scheduled start – which, according to PCB’s draft is February 19. But, the ICC has not yet finalised the country (s) that will host next year’s men’s ICC event.

It has been made clear that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan, who are the official hosts of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

While the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had initially taken a determined stance of not accepting the hybrid model – in which India’s matches, including the knockouts should they reach it, would be played in a country other than Pakistan – he is now ready to accept a decision “whatever’s best for cricket” as long as it is “done on the basis of equality”.

All parties are expected to settle on a hybrid model, or the entire tournament would be shifted out of Pakistan.

Here are three venues which ICC can choose to host India’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

UAE

The UAE is the front-runner to host India’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 given its world-class facilities and Dubai being the location of the ICC headquarters.

The UAE has hosted a few events in recent years involving India and Pakistan such as the Asia Cup 2018 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. With expats from both nations residing in the UAE, it is a very likely option to host India’s matches if the ICC decides on a hybrid model.

Sri Lanka

Another strong contender to co-host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka already has been part of one hybrid model tournament when they co-hosted the Asia Cup 2023 with Pakistan.

Pakistan were the hosts of the tournament, but then India’s matches, including the final, were played in Sri Lanka. India won the tournament by beating Sri Lanka in the final.

South Africa

South Africa is one non-Asian nation that is said to be in contention to host the entire ICC Champions Trophy 2025 should the ICC shift the tournament away from Pakistan.

A hybrid model with South Africa might not be the best option due to the logistical challenges of flying teams to South Africa from Pakistan and back.

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