The International Cricket Council (ICC) has resolved the venue deadlock for the upcoming Champions Trophy, confirming that India will compete at a neutral venue. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has selected the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the 2025 Champions Trophy matches involving India.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir announced the selection of the UAE as the neutral venue. “The PCB has officially informed the ICC about this decision, ensuring that both India and Pakistan’s matches in the Champions Trophy will take place in the UAE,” Mir stated. The decision was finalized after discussions between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan, who is visiting Pakistan and serving as the UAE Cricket Board Chairman.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has chosen the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for 2025 Champions Trophy, said PCB spokesperson Amir Mir in a statement to IANS, The PCB has formally informed the ICC about the neutral venue decision, Now, India and Pakistan's… pic.twitter.com/STU3Z979A0
— IANS (@ians_india) December 22, 2024The ICC’s executive board further confirmed that all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events up to 2027, including the 2025 Champions Trophy, will be hosted at neutral venues. This policy will extend to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Pakistan.
Due to ongoing political tensions, India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral cricket series since the 2012-13 season and currently only face each other in international tournaments such as the World Cup and Asia Cup. The Champions Trophy, set for February and March 2025, will see Pakistan defending their title, winning against India in the 2017 final at The Oval.
The teams last competed in the T20 World Cup in New York earlier this year, where India clinched a six-run victory. The schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy will be announced soon, with cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipating further details of this marquee event.
