India to Play Champions Trophy 2025 Matches at Neutral Venue
ICC Confirms Neutral Venue for India-Pakistan Matches
The deadlock over the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy hosting rights has finally been resolved. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that India’s matches during the 50-over tournament will be played at a neutral venue.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the neutral venue for the event.
PCB’s Official Statement
Amir Mir, spokesperson for the PCB, stated:
“The PCB has chosen the UAE as the neutral venue for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The PCB has formally informed the ICC about this decision. Matches between India and Pakistan will now take place in the UAE. The final decision was reached after discussions between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan, who also serves as the Chairman of the UAE Cricket Board.”
Neutral Venues for ICC Events Until 2027
The ICC executive board confirmed that all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2027 will be hosted at neutral venues. This arrangement applies to the following tournaments:
- ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025: Hosted by Pakistan
- ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025: Hosted by India
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028: Hosted by Pakistan
Historical Context
India and Pakistan’s strained political relations have restricted their cricketing interactions to ICC tournaments and Asia Cups. The last bilateral series between the two nations occurred in 2012-13, when Pakistan toured India for a white-ball series.
India and Pakistan last faced off in the T20 World Cup in New York earlier this year. India won the thrilling match by six runs and went on to secure their second T20 World Cup title.
Champions Trophy 2025 Details
The Champions Trophy, scheduled for February and March 2025, will see Pakistan defending their title, having triumphed over India in the 2017 final with a commanding 180-run victory at The Oval. The official tournament schedule is expected to be released soon.
The neutral venue decision highlights ongoing efforts to ensure the participation of both teams in ICC events despite geopolitical challenges. Fans of the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan can now look forward to witnessing these high-stakes matches in the UAE.
