India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC Board confirmed on Thursday. The announcement thus makes it clear that India will play the ICC Champions Trophy matches in neutral venue next year.
However the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be confirmed soon. Pakistan are aiming to defend the title they won in 2017. The eight-team event will feature Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, alongside hosts Pakistan. This marks the first time the tournament will be held in Pakistan since its inception in 1998.
Beside the 2025 champions trophy the move will be applicable for other marquee tournaments like the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted by India) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India and Sri Lanka).
It was also announced that the PCB has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.
BCCI stance on Champions Trophy venue
There had been speculations over the future of the Champions Trophy, with BCCI refusing to send India to Pakistan adding to logistical issues for the tournament's smooth conduct.
The BCCI had given safety concerns as the primary reason behind not sending the team to Pakistan. However, the PCB argued that the Indian board should honour the arrangement since Pakistan had done the same during the 2023 World Cup held in India.
Earlier PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly criticized any one-sided agreements, stressing the need for fairness between the two countries. In a video shared by PCB media on X (formerly Twitter), Naqvi stated, "We will do what’s best for cricket. It is definitely not a hybrid formula, but if a new formula is formed, it will be an equal one."
