Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan to be held in Dubai
Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan to be held in Dubai
India and Pakistan are set to face off at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier chosen the UAE as a neutral venue to host India’s games during the tournament following a standoff between the two rivals.
India had refused to travel to tournament host Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy, amid its security concerns.
Under a hybrid model, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had earlier confirmed that all of India’s games will be at a neutral venue, including if the team reaches the semifinals and final.
“UAE was finalized as the venue after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the Emirates Cricket Board chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan,” PCB spokesman Amir Mir had said in a statement on Sunday.
Pakistan will not play in India in ICC events in the 2024-27 cycle. Pakistan will also go to a neutral venue when India hosts the 2025 Women’s World Cup and co-hosts the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.
India has three group-stage games in the 2025 Champions Trophy, including one against Pakistan. Depending on India’s progress at the tournament, the UAE will also host one of the semifinals and the final.
The latest statement paves the way for the ICC to announce the schedule of the February-March tournament in the coming days.
(With inputs from AP)
