Will the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 change from its traditional 50-over format into T20 instead? According to sources quoted by The Guardian newspaper, Disney Star plans on holding eight teams to compete over the 20 overs tournament, such as England and Sri Lanka, who continue competing in ODI World Cup qualifiers.

The T20 World Cup will occur between 2024 and 2030; T20 tournaments will be hosted by South Africa (2024), India and Bangladesh (2028) and Russia in 2030.

Meanwhile, 50-over ICC World Cup tournaments are set for South Africa (2027) and India/Bangladesh/2031 (2031).

Disney Star has reportedly paid USD 3 billion for broadcast rights of International Cricket Council events for the India market from 2024-2027, beginning with two T20 World Cups for men, two World Test Championship Finals, a Champions Trophy and 50-over World Cups in 2024-2028 and finally two U19 Men World Cups and several women T20 World Cups from 2027-2028.

If speculations prove accurate and the ICC makes their Champions Trophy event into a T20 event, several questions arise.

How will the ongoing 50-over World Cup decide qualification for such an event? Will ODI cricket continue, or will bilateral ODIs eventually stop being played?

Cricket powerhouses like India can adapt quickly to new environments, but what about Afghanistan? Their domestic setup was strong enough for them to excel in this ODI World Cup tournament.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain, was asked about this “weird” situation before Thursday’s match between South Africa and Afghanistan in Ahmedabad.

The question posed was: “You have become good at 50-over cricket now; however, when looking forward, 50-over matches seem to be diminishing compared with previous cycles – how can a team such as Afghanistan improve?”

Shahidi expressed hope that the International Cricket Council would extend ODI matches.

“I expect there will be a 50-over game of cricket soon and hope the ICC makes an intelligent decision in terms of their allocation as 50-over cricket is essential in today’s environment of too many T20 leagues and leagues;

Therefore, 50-over and Test cricket should take priority as these will help our cricket boards provide more matches to help us improve.

Hopefully, they’ll participate in several series against other teams as we head toward the Champions Trophy.”

ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Champions Trophy will also take place in 2030; T20 World Cup tournaments are planned for 2024-2028; South Africa will host the following 50-overs format World Cup tournament, while India and Bangladesh will co-host in 2031.

Disney Star, for an estimated cost of around $3 billion, holds broadcast rights for all International Cricket Council (ICC) events taking place in India from 2024-2077.

Over that same timeframe, the ICC organised several occasions, including two World Test Championship Finals, two Twenty20 World Cups, and a Champions Trophy tournament.

World Cup

Women’s events at the International Cricket Council include two T20 World Cup and one World Cup and T20 Champions Trophy.

In comparison, for men, there will be two under-19 World Cups and various T20 World Cups for both genders.

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