ICC Champions Trophy 2021: BCCI officials miffed with colleagues over format change?

Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday made some important announcements during a board meeting in Kolkata, with the fixtures for the ICC World Cup 2019 being finalised.

In the same meeting, it was also confirmed by ICC CEO Dave Richardson that the ICC Champions Trophy 2021 would be shortened to the T20 format, thereby resulting in two T20 global tournaments in as many years.

This was a move supported by Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Amitabh Choudhary, and was also termed as a ‘unanimous’ decision.

According to the Times of India, the BCCI members have accused CEO Rahul Johri and secretary Amitabh Chaudhary for supporting the change to the T20 format.

Meanwhile, an industry executive has said that there will be a clause in ICC media rights agreement, stressing on the fact that India will host the World T20 in 2021.

. “A World T20 will be a longer tournament than the Champions Trophy. So, there’s a clause in the ICC’s media rights agreement which dictates this policy (of broadcaster shelling out more),” the source said.

“It (World T20) will now eat into India’s home calendar,” the source added.

After the 2021 World T20, India will also host the 2023 edition of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, in the 2019 World Cup, India will lock horns against South Africa on June 5 at Southampton.