Breakthrough as India, Pakistan agree on reciprocal hybrid model

ISLAMABAD: All’s well that ends well! A historic breakthrough has brought a win-win solution for both Pakistan and India, as the much-anticipated arrangement for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been finalised. In a decisive move and understanding between the two countries, India will play at least three of the group matches in the UAE, including the epic Pakistan-India clash at the Dubai Sports City Stadium. The men in blue will also face Bangladesh and New Zealand in the UAE. If India progress to the semi-finals and final, these matches will also be hosted by the UAE.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will host all non-India matches from their group and other groups, along with any semis and the final if India fails to qualify.

2026 T20 World Cup: A similar hybrid format will be adopted for the 2026 T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, including potential semi-finals and finals.

ICC Approval Pending: The ICC Board is expected to give green signal to the Champions Trophy schedule in an online meeting on December 7.

“It’s a reciprocal hybrid model ensuring no winners or losers -- truly a win-win situation for both the nations,” an ICC insider revealed.

Asia Cup and Beyond: India is set to host the 2024 Asia Cup, with Pakistan chairing the ACC. The final format remains undecided, and similar concerns surround the Women’s World Cup due to financial constraints for hybrid arrangements.

“Since the chairmanship will be with Pakistan, it has been left to both countries and ACC to decide on the Asia Cup format. There is also no final word on the Women’s World Cup where it would be difficult to fetch the required finances to help teams travel back and forth unlike men’s cricket where huge financial backing will be there. So adopting a hybrid model for women’s cricket will be a difficult proposition,” the source added.

While Pakistan is expected to generate significant revenue through the Champions Trophy, their request to increase their ICC revenue share (currently 5.8 percent against India’s 38 percent) remains pending.

During recent talks in Dubai, Pakistan proposed an offshore tri-series to keep the cricketing spirit alive among expatriates. However, India remains hesitant to engage in bilateral series, limiting encounters to the ICC and ACC events.

During Thursday’s meeting between Jay Shah and Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai, Pakistan proposed an offshore tri-series based on the ICC’s concerns that it would lose revenues pursuing a hybrid model for the next three years. That was more an attempt to keep expatriates spirits high (living in the UK or elsewhere). The idea was to provide them with an opportunity to get a full taste of Pak-India matches, which they have been missing mainly because there has been no bilateral series since 2006.

“That idea did not materialise as India is still reluctant to play Pakistan apart from ICC and ACC events.”

Despite hurdles, the agreements signal a step towards fostering cricketing ties. The Champions Trophy 2025 promises thrilling moments for fans globally while setting a precedent for future collaborations between the two cricketing giants.