The future of the ICC Champions Trophy is back in doubt. It is
understood that the tournament is highly likely to be scrapped after the
2021 tournament, in India, and could even be abolished after next
year's tournament, in England, should a new ODI league be introduced
from 2019.
The Champions Trophy was originally meant to be scrapped after the 2013
edition, but the huge commercial success of that year's tournament in
England led to it being retained, at the expense of the World Test
Championship that had been scheduled for 2017.
However, now the tournament faces being a victim of the ICC's ongoing
review of the structure of international cricket. Under the latest
proposals an ODI league, of 13 nations, is being planned from 2019,
culminating in a play-off between the leading two sides in 2022.
It is felt that, with an ODI league alongside the World Cup, a third
50-over tournament would be superfluous, adding unnecessarily to the
schedule and risking confusion among casual fans by creating three
winners of 50-over international tournaments in the space of 24 months.
Although the Champions Trophy has proved hugely popular, in part due to
its condensed nature - 15 matches will be played over 18 days in next
year's competition - the ICC has never been enamoured with having two
marquee tournaments in 50-over cricket alongside the World Twenty20, and
had planned to scrap the tournament as far back as 2011.
Over seven editions, and despite the concise nature of the tournament,
the Champions Trophy has struggled to build up a clear identity. An
additional factor is the anticipated return of the World T20 to a
two-year cycle. That proposal is likely to be ratified at the
forthcoming ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh.
As part of the ICC's proposals for reforms to the schedule of the
international game, it is envisaged that structured competitions - ICC
global events, and the leagues in Test and ODI cricket - would take up
less than six months a year, creating ample time for countries to
organise extra bilateral cricket, such as the Ashes, and for players to
participate in domestic T20 leagues.
The commercial implications of scrapping the Champions Trophy are not a
great concern. This is because the extra value of a biennial WT20 would
more than offset the costs of its removal.
Indeed, it is understood that senior figures from the ICC have recently
met with Star Sports in Dubai to discuss the future of ICC events and
whether to retain the Champions Trophy.
It is possible that, as part of the negotiations for Star Sports to
broadcast the two extra WT20s in this broadcasting cycle, scheduled for
2018 and 2022, they would agree for the 2021 Champions Trophy to be
scrapped.
If it was agreed that the 2021 Champions Trophy would not take place,
India, the scheduled hosts for that tournament, would be well-placed to
host another WT20, in 2022 or 2024, instead.
An ICC spokesman told ESPNcricinfo: "The event has been allocated to
India in 2021, but how things will pan out following discussions around
international cricket structures, we don't know."
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