Reports suggest that there could be changes in the hosting arrangements for the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Originally planned for West Indies and USA, the T20 World Cup might be shifted to Scotland and Ireland, while the Champions Trophy could be hosted by West Indies and the USA instead of Pakistan. These discussions are in the early stages and have only been conducted verbally.
The primary reason for considering this change is the scheduling constraints faced by the United Kingdom, which can only host events in the May-June window. Scotland and Ireland are being considered as alternative hosts for the T20 World Cup as the original schedule aligns with their available timeframe.
Moving the Champions Trophy to West Indies and the USA provides an additional year for the USA to develop the necessary infrastructure for hosting the tournament. Additionally, due to its smaller number of matches compared to the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy is seen as a more logistically feasible option for West Indies and the USA.
Concerns have been raised regarding the current infrastructure situation in the USA. Hosting an event like the T20 World Cup poses significant challenges in terms of venue readiness. There are also potential financial losses for broadcasters in the sub-continent, where returns are typically high.
Official hosting agreements have not been signed by any of the countries involved in the hosting arrangements. The process for initiating these agreements may start during the ICC annual conference in Durban in July. The ICC may request the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to the swap, and there could be monetary compensation offered to the PCB for the change.