USA, Pakistan Among 17 Interested Bidders to Host ICC Events

Pakistan is among 17 candidates who have expressed their interest in hosting ICC events in the 2024 to 2031 cycle. Similar expressions of interest have also been submitted to the ICC by six associate nations, namely the USA, the UAE, Scotland, Oman, Namibia and Malaysia. In all, as many as 17 member nations have expressed their interest to become hosts for eight white-ball ICC events for men. These include two champions trophy tournaments, four T20 World Cups and two ODI World Cups scheduled during the 2024-2031 cycle.

Security Concerns Have Led to Fewer International Matches in Pakistan

The hosting of international cricket by Pakistan has been severely limited by security concerns for over 10 years. The 2008 champions trophy tournament had been originally planned to be held in Pakistan before the event was moved to South Africa over a year later. After terrorist attacks in 2009 in Lahore wherein the Sri Lanka squad’s bus was targeted, international matches staged in Pakistan became severely restricted for a decade. In the bargain, Pakistan lost the opportunity of co-hosting the ODI World Cup in 2011.

Preliminary Proposals Submitted by Full Members

As many as 10 full member nations have also expressed interest — in the form of preliminary technical proposals submitted individually or jointly — in hosting ICC events in the upcoming cycle. These include Zimbabwe, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, India, England, Bangladesh and Australia.

ICC Chief Executive Weighs in

Geoff Allardice, the acting chief executive of the ICC, said in a media release, “We are delighted with the response from our Members to hosting ICC men’s white-ball events post 2023. This process gives us an opportunity to extend our range of hosts and grow interest in cricket worldwide reaching more fans whilst creating a long-term legacy for the sport.” 

“We will now move forward to the second phase of the process where Members will provide a more detailed proposal before the ICC Board takes decisions on our future hosts later this year.”

Big Thr

Big Three Have Largely Hosted ICC Events Over the Last Decade

>The so-called big three, namely Australia, England and India, have been the main hosts of ICC men’s T20I and ODI events during the last 10 years or so. While India hosted the 2011 ODI World Cup with co-hosting assistance from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Australia co-hosted the 2015 ODI World Cup along with New Zealand, and England hosted the 2019 edition of the event. India was set to host the T20I World Cup later this year; owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been shifted to the UAE. The 2022 T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Australia.

No Clarit

No Clarity on Distribution of Next Cycle of Events

s year, the ICC will begin an independent process aimed at determining the hosts of women’s U-19 events as well as the World Test Championship finals during the next cycle. As yet, there is no clarity as to how the ICC will distribute the next cycle of events. The ICC, which had announced that the hosts for the events would be determined through open bidding, later made a U-turn by stating that the process of making hosts for global events would now involve selection by the ICC board.