PCB names UAE as neutral venue for India matches

• Pakistan will host the remaining matches of the tournament.
• PCB notifies ICC to finalize neutral venue for mega event.
• The decision was taken after the Indian government refused to allow players to visit Pakistan.

Ending the heated and long-running debates over the neutral venue for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to name the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for India’s matches.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) was informed of the decision taken after a meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan, a PCB spokesperson said.

The issue has been circulating in the two countries for some time now with the Indian government refusing to allow its players to visit Pakistan for the mega event.

Now, the much-awaited Champions Trophy will be partially held in the UAE for India’s matches with the rest of the matches scheduled at Pakistani facilities.

Earlier, the president had said that the decision on India’s neutral venue for the 2025 Champions Trophy matches would be finalized today, stressing, “We will ensure that cricket does not suffer.”

The PCB chief’s comments came days after the ICC announced that the Champions Trophy would be played in a hybrid model, with India playing its matches at a neutral venue rather than host nation Pakistan.

“India and Pakistan matches hosted by any country at ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC Board of Governors has confirmed,” a statement released by the board said .

“This will be the case for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (hosted by Pakistan).”

As per the agreement, Pakistan will also play at neutral venues in the upcoming ICC tournaments hosted by India.

The agreement will extend to the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup hosted by India and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the statement added.