2025 Champions Trophy to be shifted from Pakistan to West Indies and USA: report

The 2024 T20 World Cup, initially planned for West Indies and USA, and the 50-over 2025 Champions Trophy set to take place in Pakistan, might undergo changes according to reports.

Instead of the T20 World Cup, West Indies and USA could potentially host the Champions Trophy, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may receive monetary compensation for the switch.

According to News18, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering shifting the 2025 tournament from Pakistan to the Caribbean, while the 2024 T20 World Cup would be moved to England, Scotland and Ireland. However, these discussions are in their early stages and have only been conducted verbally. The broadcasters for the next ICC media rights are also in agreement with this proposal, and if things progress smoothly, the changes may be implemented.

The proposed change is primarily driven by the scheduling constraints faced by the United Kingdom, which can only host events in the May-June window. As the original schedule for the 2024 tournament aligns with this time frame, Ireland and Scotland have been considered as alternative hosts for the T20 World Cup.

Shifting the Champions Trophy to West Indies and the USA offers the United States an additional year to develop the necessary infrastructure for hosting the tournament. Moreover, since the Champions Trophy features fewer matches compared to the T20 World Cup, it is seen as a more logistically viable option for the West Indies and the USA.

It has been noted that the current infrastructure situation in the USA is not very encouraging, and hosting an event like the T20 World Cup would pose significant challenges. The lack of ready venues and the potential financial losses for broadcasters in the sub-continent, where returns are typically high, are some of the concerns raised.

“The current infrastructure situation in the USA is not very encouraging. Even if they successfully host the upcoming Major League Cricket, hosting an event like the T20 World Cup is a different ball game altogether. Where will you host the matches when the venues aren’t ready? Also, a long tournament in the far west could be a loss-making proposition for the broadcasters in the sub-continent, where the returns are highest,” says a source reported by News18.

The report further added that none of the countries involved in the hosting arrangements have signed the official "hosting agreements" yet. The process for initiating these agreements could begin in July during the ICC annual conference in Durban. The ICC may request the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to the swap, potentially compensating them monetarily for the change.