While Pakistan has the hosting rights for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tried hard to host the entire tournament in Pakistan. However, due to the strong objection from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the PCB is reportedly ready to change the ICC CT 2025 venues under some conditions. 

PCB is desperate to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

While the ICC Champions Trophy is set to return in 2025, the PCB is desperate to host the entire tournament in Pakistan between February and March 2025. It is the first ICC tournament for Pakistan since hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996. The PCB has selected Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

See Also: Pakistan opener Shahzaib Khan creates history in the ACC U19 Asia Cup

According to the PCB and media reports, while all the remaining six boards are ready to play in Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI has refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is desperate to welcome the Indian cricket team to Pakistan, but the BCCI has shown security reasons for not traveling to Pakistan.

Last Friday (November 29), the International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled a virtual board meeting to decide on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the ICC has reportedly brought the hybrid hosting model to the table, some of the PCB members have reportedly objected to the hybrid model. 

The conditions

While the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting decision is likely to be finalised this weekend, some news reports are claiming that the PCB has finally accepted the hybrid model to host the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 under some conditions.

Some of the reported conditions are as follows:

• An increase in the revenue from the ICC. 
• While the hybrid model will take away the final from Pakistan, the PCB wants Lahore to be a backup option for the Champions Trophy final in case India fail to qualify for the final.
• In the future, Pakistan won’t travel to India for any tournament. If India get the hosting rights, the BCCI also has to bring up the hybrid hosting model for Pakistan. 

If the ICC accepts the PCB’s conditions, the PCB is reportedly open to hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the hybrid model. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) reprimanded one South African fast bowler due to showing dissent in one umpiring decision during the series-decider match of the four-match T20I series between South Africa and India. Apart from a fine from the match fees, the Proteas’ player has been handed one demerit point. 

Johannesburg hosted the last game of the four-match T20I series between South Africa and India last Friday (November 15). Leading the series by 2-1, India scored 283/1 in 20 overs thanks to twin unbeaten centuries by Sanju Samson (109*) and Tilak Varma (120*). In reply, South Africa were all out for 148 runs, and India won the series by 3-1 after winning the series finale by 135 runs. 

SEE ALSO: Star player dropped as India women announced squad for Australia series

Gerald Coetzee unhappy with a wide 

The 24-year-old South African pacer Gerald Coetzee has been found guilty during the first innings of that Johannesburg T20I. During the 15th over of the Indian innings, Coetzee made an inappropriate comment to the umpire after his delivery was given a wide. While the behaviour was noted by the umpire, Coetzee has been charged with the Level 1 offence.

Apart from adding one demerit point to his name, Coetzee has been fined 50 percent of his match fee by the match referee Andy Pycroft. As Coetzee admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions, there will be no more formal hearing.

Temba Bavuma returns to the squad

Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the full squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka. Captain Temba Bavuma returns to the squad after recovering from an elbow injury. Durban will host the Test series opener from November 27, and Gqeberha will host the second Test from December 5. 

Full South African squad for the home Test series against Sri Lanka

Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.

Demerit points for Netherlands and Oman players

On the other hand, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards and Oman pacer Sufyan Mehmood also faced sanctions for their actions during the third and last game of the three-match T20I series on November 16. Edwards received two demerit points, one point for showing his bat to the umpire after he was given an lbw and the other point for throwing his bat and gloves on the field during his return to the dressing room. He also received a match fee fine of 10%. 

In the meantime, Oman cricketer Sufyan Mehmood received one demerit point along with a 10% match fee fine for giving a send-off to the Dutch batter Teja Nidamanuru.

Both Edwards and Mehmood admitted their respective offences and also accepted the sanctions, which were proposed by Neeyamur Rashid Rahul. 

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) are busy to find solutions quickly. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It is the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup that Pakistan will host an ICC tournament. 

India last toured Pakistan in 2008. Even in the last Asia Cup (2023), which was played in the ODI format, Pakistan was the host nation, but the BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan forced the PCB to host the tournament in a hybrid model. Sri Lanka majorly hosted the Indian matches and the final. 

So, the BCCI’s negative decision to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was highly expected. 

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

What did the BCCI tell the ICC?

According to media reports, the BCCI has clarified that the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy is acceptable to them only if Dubai hosts the tournament final.  

A source told PTI, “Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India’s matches in UAE and the final in Dubai. The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai and not in Pakistan. The ICC has told the PCB that if it decides to go ahead with the hosting of the mega event on a Hybrid Model it would get its full hosting fees and majority of the matches.”

Present status on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy on a hybrid model

Meanwhile, the PCB wants clarifications from the ICC on BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan. According to media reports, the PCB is still not thinking of hosting the tournament on a hybrid model and is hopeful to host the complete tournament in Pakistan. 

A PCB source told PTI, "There is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a Hybrid Model system as of now. An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision. As of now, the entire situation is being gauged by the PCB. No decision has been taken on the next step. Yes, the PCB is in touch with the government for consultation and directives if required."

The ICC Champions Trophy is returning after eight years. England and Wales hosted the last ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where Pakistan won their first title in the competition after beating the defending champions India in the final of the tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will run between eight teams. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England will participate in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the 13-member all-female panel of match officials for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 between October 3 and 20, 2024. Dubai and Sharjah will host 23 matches of the tournament. Ten teams will participate in the ninth edition of the women’s T20 World Cup. 

The ICC has announced ten female umpires and three female match referees for the upcoming women’s T20 World Cup.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024

Claire Polosak is the most experienced women's T20 World Cup umpire

Australian Claire Polosak is the most experienced among the selected umpires for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. She has already experienced four ICC Women’s T20 World Cup tournaments. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand Kim Cotton and Jamaican Jacqueline Williams have already experienced three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups. Cotton was the on-field umpire in the last two women’s T20 World Cup finals, while Williams officiated as the on-field umpire in the last women’s T20 World Cup final.

English umpire Sue Redfern has also experienced three women’s T20 World Cups. In the last tournament final, Redfern was a TV umpire.  

On the other hand, Lauren Agenbag from South Africa has experienced two women’s T20 World Cups, while Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Vrinda Rathi, and Eloise Sheridan made their women’s T20 World Cup debuts in the last edition.

Only the Zimbabwean Sarah Dambanevana will make her women’s T20 World Cup debut in the forthcoming edition. 

All match referees have women's T20 World Cup experiences

Among the match referees, Indian GS Lakshmi has experienced the last two women’s T20 World Cups, while South African Shandré Fritz and Sri Lankan Michell Pereira made their women’s T20 World Cup debuts in the last edition. 

Full-member match officials for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024

Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Jacquiline Williams.

Match Referees: Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira.

A five-member delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) has landed in Karachi on Tuesday for an important inspection visit ahead of next year's Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. The team, comprising top officials from the ICC's Events and Security Departments, as well as the General Manager of Cricket and the Production Manager, will be evaluating the security and logistical preparations for the tournament.

Inspection of construction and accommodation

During their visit, the ICC delegation will review the ongoing construction work in Karachi, which is essential for hosting the event. They will also assess the arrangements for team accommodations to ensure that all facilities meet the required standards. The delegation's itinerary includes inspections in Islamabad and Lahore, where they will continue to evaluate the infrastructure and security measures.

See Also: Rohit Sharma focusing on workload management before Bangladesh Test series

Discussion on tournament schedule and travel concerns

A significant aspect of the delegation's visit is to discuss the tentative schedule of the Champions Trophy, which has been prepared and submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). A key point of discussion will be the Indian team's accommodation and match locations, with Lahore planned as their base. The delegation will also consider scenarios where travel restrictions imposed by the Indian government could impact the team's participation. Additionally, the ICC Security Manager will receive briefings from Pakistani security officials to ensure comprehensive safety measures are in place. The finalization and announcement of the tournament schedule will depend on the outcomes of these discussions and inspections.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the record prize money for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 between October 3 and 20, 2024. Ten teams are ready to participate in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, while Bangladesh Women will play as the hosting team, who lost the opportunity to organise the tournament due to a tense situation in the country after political turmoil.

SEE ALSO: ICC announces updated Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Total prize money value is US$7,958,080

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will see a rise of 225% from the 2023 edition of the total prize money, which is valued at US$7,958,080. 

The champions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will earn US$2,340,000, 134% more than the 2023 edition. Similarly, the runners-up will also earn 134% more than the previous edition, US$1,170,000. 

Teams, who will be eliminated from the semi-finals, will earn US$675,000 each. It will be 221% more than the previous edition. 

While the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 experienced a US$17,500 reward for every group stage win, the upcoming tournament will experience a 78% hike with US$31,154 for every victory in the group stage. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Other teams will not leave the tournament with empty hands

Moreover, teams finishing fifth to eighth will earn US$270,000 each, while the ninth and tenth teams will earn US$135,000 each. 

The ICC official website also added that there was a base price set of US$112,500 for every participating team in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. As ten teams are ready to participate in this competition, the total award for this section is US$1,125,000. 

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be the ninth edition of the tournament. Australia Women have won six trophies, including winning the last three editions. Talking about the other two trophy successes, England Women won the inaugural edition at home (2009), and West Indies won the trophy in 2016 in India. 

Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian national team in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle from 2023 to 2025

and also in the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for 2025. In a video message Jay Shah shared recently, “I am confident that under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, we will win the WTC Final and the Champions Trophy.”

Jay Shah’s confidence in Rohit’s leadership

Rohit Sharma secured his first International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy as captain when he led the Men in Blue to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosted by the United States of America (USA) and West Indies.

Rohit Sharma’s path to captaincy

Rohit took over as captain of the Indian team in late 2021, following Virat Kohli’s decision to step down from leadership. Initially facing mixed results, including losses in the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2022, the team rebounded the following year to win the Asia Cup.

India had a remarkable journey in the 2023 ODI World Cup, winning 10 consecutive matches before narrowly losing to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad.

In T20 matches, Rohit successfully led India to victory in the World Cup, making them the first team in the tournament’s history to claim the title without losing a single game. In Test cricket, Rohit has guided India to series victories against Australia and England on home soil.