The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to host India’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy next year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a neutral location due to ongoing tensions between the two countries.
PCB Announces Neutral Venue For India’s Games In Champions Trophy 2025
Due to security concerns, India declined to travel to Pakistan, the host country for the eight-team Champions Trophy. On Thursday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that, under a hybrid model, all of India’s matches, including the semifinals and final if they qualify, will be played at a neutral venue.
Speaking about the same, on Sunday, the PCB spokesman Amir Mir said: “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has chosen the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for the 2025 Champions Trophy,”
“The PCB has formally informed the ICC about the neutral venue decision. Now, India and Pakistan’s Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE. The decision regarding the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy was to be made by the host, Pakistan. The final decision on the venue was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan. Sheikh Al Nahyan, currently in Pakistan, is also the Chairman of the UAE Cricket Board,” he added.
Pakistan will not play in India during ICC events from 2024 to 2027. Instead, Pakistan will play at 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 matches in the 2025 Champions Trophy, including one against Pakistan. If India advances in the tournament, the UAE will also host one of the semifinals and the final.
The latest announcement clears the way for the ICC to release the schedule for the February-March tournament in the coming days.
Political tensions between Pakistan and India have stopped their teams from touring each other’s countries since 2012 when Pakistan visited India for a bilateral ODI series.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 groups
Group A:
Pakistan
India
Bangladesh
New Zealand
Group B:
Australia
England
Afghanistan
South Africa
FAQs:
When will the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals take place?
The Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals are scheduled for March 4 and March 5, 2025. The first semifinal on March 4 has no reserve day, while the second semifinal on March 5 includes a reserve day. If India qualifies for the semifinal, one of the two semifinals will be held in Dubai.
When will the Champions Trophy 2025 final take place?
The grand finale of the Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled for March 9, with March 10 as the reserve day.
Which TV channels will broadcast the Champions Trophy 2025 in India?
Star Sports will broadcast the Champions Trophy 2025 matches live in India.
Where can I watch the live streaming of the Champions Trophy 2025 matches in India?
Disney+ Hotstar will provide live streaming of the Champions Trophy 2025 matches in India.
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