Doubts over future of ICC Champions Trophy

Tournament could be abolished after next year's edition should a new ODI league be introduced from 2019 onwards

International Cricket Council ICC Champions Trophy is highly likely to be scrapped after 2021, and could even be abolished after next year's tournament should a new ODI league be introduced from 2019 onwards, ESPNCricinfo reported on Thursday.

The tournament was originally meant to be scrapped after the 2013 edition, however, the commercial success of that year’s tournament in England led to it being retained at the expense of the World Test Championship which was scheduled for 2017.

Now the tournament again faces being a victim of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ongoing review of the structure of international cricket. Under the new proposals, an ODI league is being planned for 2019, culminating in a play-off between the two leading sides in 2022.



It is understood that, with an ODI league alongside the World Cup, a third 50-over tournament would be redundant. Despite its concise nature, the Champions Trophy has struggled to build up a clear identity.

The biennial WT20 tournaments would more than offset the profits from Champions Trophy, therefore scrapping the tournament altogether is not a huge concern.



If it is agreed to scrap the 2021 Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in India, the hosts would be well-placed to host another WT20, in either 2022 or 2024.

An ICC spokesperson said: “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.”