-Friday World – February 19, 2026
Cricket fans are in for heartbreaking news. While the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 has seen India-Pakistan matches shifted to neutral venues like Colombo, bigger ICC tournaments in the future could be taken away from India entirely. According to a report published on February 16, 2026, in the Australian newspaper 'The Age', the ICC is seriously considering relocating the 2029 Champions Trophy and the 2031 ODI World Cup from India to avoid major logistical headaches.
The main trigger is the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, where both countries have refused to play bilateral series or even travel to each other's territory for years.
This has forced the ICC to adopt a hybrid/neutral venue model for India-Pakistan clashes in global events, creating complications for security, broadcasters, sponsors, and overall scheduling.
Political Tensions Hand Cricket a Heavy Penalty
Bilateral series between India and Pakistan have been suspended for years, but the issue has now spilled over into ICC events.
India refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, leading to the hybrid model where matches were played at neutral venues like Dubai.
BCCI and PCB signed an agreement with the ICC for the 2024-2027 cycle, ensuring India-Pakistan games in multilateral tournaments would happen at neutral venues.
Reports suggest this arrangement could now extend beyond 2027—potentially up to 2029 and 2031—to keep things stable.
The ICC fears that hosting in India could become too risky if teams like Bangladesh (who already hesitated in the current T20 World Cup) refuse to travel due to similar concerns, leading to massive logistical and commercial issues.
Will Australia Become the New Host?
If India loses these hosting rights, Australia is emerging as the top contender.
Australia has a proven track record: successfully hosted the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
It offers neutral political positioning, world-class infrastructure, and good relations with all Asian teams—making it a "safe option" for the ICC, broadcasters, and sponsors.
Australia and New Zealand are already co-hosting the 2028 T20 World Cup, so they are well-positioned and prepared to step in for 2029 Champions Trophy and 2031 ODI World Cup if needed.
T20 World Cup 2026: The Hidden Truth in Colombo
In the current T20 World Cup (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka), Pakistan's entire group-stage matches are being played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The high-profile India vs Pakistan clash took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs.
If both teams reach the semi-finals or final, that match would also be held in Colombo under the neutral venue rule.
This model has become the ICC's forced solution to geopolitical realities, and it's exactly why future mega-events face similar uncertainty. What Does This Mean for Indian Cricket Fans? This could be the biggest blow for Indian fans.
The thrill of watching a World Cup or Champions Trophy at home—with packed stadiums, roaring crowds, and home advantage—would vanish.
BCCI's massive revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships could take a hit.
The ICC's priority is now "global cricket stability" rather than favoring any single nation's hosting rights.
Cricket should rise above politics, but sadly, it's becoming a victim of it. Will the ICC really strip India of these major tournaments, or will a last-minute compromise emerge? Only time will tell. For now, fans can only hope and pray that the magic of cricket continues—and that India-Pakistan clashes happen on the field, not dictated by neutral venue compulsions.
Cricket lovers, drop your thoughts in the comments: Do you think India will manage to retain these hosting rights?
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World – February 19, 2026
