The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host India’s matches in the 2025 Champions Trophy, resolving a longstanding dispute between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This decision follows the ICC’s announcement of a “hybrid model” for the tournament, which requires India’s games to be played at a neutral venue due to security concerns and political tensions, with the BCCI having refused to send its team to Pakistan.
The agreement was finalized during a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and UAE Cricket Board head Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in Ghotki on Saturday.
Although the PCB initially opposed the hybrid model, a compromise has been reached, ensuring that both India and Pakistan will play their matches at neutral venues in all future ICC events hosted by either country until 2027. This includes the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and Women’s T20 World Cup 2028.
This agreement marks a significant shift, given the Indian government’s longstanding ban on the national cricket team’s travel to Pakistan for bilateral series, with the last such series taking place in 2012-13.
