NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday confirmed that the upcoming ICC tournaments will adopt a hybrid model to address the prolonged impasse over India’s unwillingness to visit Pakistan.
In a statement, the ICC said, “The ICC Board has approved that all matches between India and Pakistan played at ICC Events during the current rights cycle from 2024 to 2027 (which are to be hosted in India or Pakistan) will be played at a neutral venue proposed by the tournament host.”
The hybrid arrangement will be implemented for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and extend to other major events such as the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The ICC’s decision comes amid India’s continued reluctance to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
With tensions between the two nations, the hybrid model provides a middle ground, ensuring the tournaments proceed without excluding either side.
What is the hybrid model?
The hybrid model splits matches across multiple countries. In this context, it designates one country as the primary host but moves matches involving India and Pakistan to a neutral venue.
The setup addresses India’s refusal to play in Pakistan while still allowing Pakistan to host tournaments.
Neutral venues are decided by the ICC and the host nation based on feasibility and security.
This approach ensures inclusion of all participating teams, regardless of political tensions, while maintaining the competitive integrity of ICC events.
While it poses logistical challenges, it has proven to be a viable solution for high-stakes tournaments involving sensitive bilateral relationships.
The hybrid model was notably implemented during the 2023 Asia Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, matches involving the Indian team were played in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted games involving other teams.
Of the tournament’s 13 matches, four took place in Pakistan, and nine, including the final, were held in Sri Lanka.