The International Cricket Council (ICC) is contemplating scrapping
the Champions Trophy after the 2021 edition, according to reports on ESPNcricinfo.
The tournament was set to be abolished in 2013, but following its
success, it was decided to stage another edition in 2017 in England
instead of the inaugural World Test Championship.
If the new
One-Day International (ODI) League does crop up from 2019, next year's
tournament in England could be the last time we see teams fighting it
out for what is usually termed as the 'mini World Cup'. The league could
see 13 teams playing each other over a period of three years with the
top teams clashing in a play-off in 2022.
Since the ICC is not in
favour of having three competitions for the 50-over format, the 2021
edition in India might not take place. In such a scenario, India might
get to host the 2022 or the 2024 World Twenty20 since the recommendation
to stage the competition every two years once is likely to be approved
at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh. And hence the ICC will not
look at the potential commercial loss by scrapping a tournament which
was quite popular last time.
The Champions Trophy is usually
played across three weeks and consists of 15 matches. Next year's
edition will see Bangladesh playing in the tournament at the expense of
West Indies. India are the defending champions after they beat hosts
England in the final in 2013. India also won it back in 2002 when they
shared the trophy with Sri Lanka. Australia have also won it twice,
winning it in 2006 and then becoming the first team to retain it
successfully in 2009.

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