The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), known as the most powerful cricket body in the world, is facing a tough situation. New reports suggest
that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is thinking about taking away India's hosting rights for two upcoming mega-events: the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup.
The main reason for this change is the ongoing political tension between India and its neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In the past, the ICC used a "Hybrid Model" where some teams played in different countries to avoid travel issues. However, this has become very expensive and difficult for organizers and broadcasters to manage.
Why are ICC likely to move Tournaments away from India?
The Pakistan Factor: Since India refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan is now expected to refuse to play in India in 2029. This creates a "deadlock" where the two biggest rivals cannot play on each other's soil.
The Bangladesh Crisis: Relations with Bangladesh have also hit a low point. During the current 2026 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh reportedly refused to play their matches in India. This caused a huge mess, and Bangladesh was eventually replaced by Scotland in the tournament.
Why Australia? The 'Safe' Alternative
Australia is being tipped as the "Neutral Home" for these tournaments. With its proven track record of hosting successful World Cups (2015 and 2022) and its neutral political standing with all Asian nations, the ICC believes Australia offers the stability needed for broadcasters and sponsors.
Furthermore, the time zones in Australia align reasonably well with the core Asian market, ensuring that television viewership remains high.
A Huge Blow for the BCCI
For the BCCI, losing these tournaments would be a dual blow.
Revenue Loss: Hosting a World Cup or Champions Trophy brings in billions through tourism, ticket sales, and local sponsorships.
Prestige: India has long been the "home of cricket. " Moving events to Australia or other neutral grounds signals a shift in power and a lack of confidence in the subcontinent's ability to separate sports from politics.
The BCCI is expected to fight this proposal in the upcoming ICC board meetings. However, with the ICC prioritizing the stability of its global schedule, the era of India automatically hosting every major tournament may be coming to a temporary end.
