The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the United Arab Emirates as the neutral venue for Champions Trophy 2025. According to a spokesperson for the PCB, Amir Mir, the board has officially communicated its decision to the International Cricket Council. This move will ensure that all matches involving India during the tournament are held in the UAE.
The decision on the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy would rest with Pakistan, being the official host of the tournament. After discussions between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and UAE Cricket Board Chairman Sheikh Al Nahyan, the UAE is likely to be the first choice. Sheikh Al Nahyan, who is presently in Pakistan, played an important role in finalizing the arrangement.
India matches in Champions Trophy and all ICC events till 2027 will be played at neutral venue
The ICC Executive Board further affirmed that all future matches between India and Pakistan in ICC events through 2027 will be played at neutral venues. This includes the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Other tournaments it applies to are the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, cohosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 to be held in Pakistan.
Cricketing relations between India and Pakistan had always been a politically volatile subject, but had still permitted them to contest on and off over ICC events as well as the Asia Cup. Bilateral matches have not happened since Pakistan visited India for the 2012-13 one-day/ODI tour. Nonetheless, this contest remains perhaps the world’s most anticipated sporting confrontation.
Pakistan will now host the prestigious Champions Trophy 2025 between February and March. Having emerged as title winners previously in 2017, when they beat India by 180 runs, they will attempt to do this again at their home venues. According to the International Cricket Board, the total schedule of the tournament will be out within the following days.
Also, see: Hybrid model finally accepted for Champions Trophy 2025