The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy will follow a hybrid hosting model, with India and Pakistan’s matches scheduled at neutral venues. This decision was finalized by the ICC Board as part of an agreement governing ICC events from 2025 to 2027.
The Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19, will be hosted by Pakistan, but all three of India’s league matches, including the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan, will take place in Dubai. The semifinals and final are also slated for Dubai unless India is eliminated after the league stage, in which case Lahore and Rawalpindi will host these key matches.
This hybrid arrangement mirrors the model used during the 2023 Men’s Asia Cup, where India’s matches were held in Colombo while Pakistan hosted the remainder. The ICC also confirmed that neutral venues will be proposed by host boards and approved by the council.
In a separate development, ESPNcricinfo reports a potential triangular T20I series involving India, Pakistan, and a third nation at neutral venues as compensation for Pakistan’s inability to host India’s games during the Champions Trophy.
The agreement also applies to other major ICC events, including the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which Pakistan will host under the hybrid model.
Political tensions have prevented India and Pakistan from playing bilateral series since 2012-13, restricting encounters to ICC events and the Asia Cup. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, underscoring the significance of these neutral arrangements.
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