×

ICC may dump Champions Trophy after 2017 edition

An ODI league of 13 nations is being planned from 2019, culminating in a play-off between the leading two sides in 2022.

ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be played in England and will begin on June 1 © Getty Images
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 will be played in England and will begin on June 1 © Getty Images

The future of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy is back in doubt as the tournament could even be abolished after next year’s edition in England, should a new One-Day International (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, reports ESPNcricinfo. However, now the tournament faces being a victim of the ICC’s ongoing review of the structure of international cricket. READ: India to begin title defence against Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2017

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. 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 of having two marquee tournaments in 50-over cricket alongside the World Twenty20, and had planned to scrap the tournament as far back as 2011. READ: ICC Champions Trophy 2017: MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, other captains extend support to tournament

“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,” an ICC spokesman said.

Meanwhile, ICC Champions Trophy 2017 which will be played in England will begin on June 1. Hosts England will play against Bangladesh in the first encounter of the tournament. The Kennington Oval in London will be the venue for the first match. The defending champions India will begin their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

trending this week