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Pakistan will ‘host’ 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with India playing their matches in Dubai.
PCB will ‘host’ ICC Champions Trophy with India playing their matches in Dubai. (Picture Credit: X/@TheRealPCB)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his pride and optimism over Pakistan’s role as the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule on Tuesday.
It is a historic moment for Pakistan, which last hosted a major ICC event during the 1996 World Cup.
“We are pleased that an agreement has been reached based on the principles of equality and respect, showcasing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that defines our sport,” Naqvi stated, highlighting the importance of this milestone for Pakistan cricket.
He further expressed gratitude to the ICC for enabling Pakistan to co-host the tournament alongside Dubai. “Hosting the Champions Trophy is a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting our commitment to promoting cricket at the highest level and showcasing our capabilities as a premier event organizer. Pakistan is elated to welcome the world to the Champions Trophy, and we look forward to extending our renowned hospitality to all,” he added.
The Champions Trophy 2025, featuring eight teams, will begin on February 19 with the opening match between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. The event will culminate with the final on March 9, set to be held in Lahore unless India qualifies, in which case it will shift to Dubai.
This hybrid format ensures that Pakistan hosts the majority of matches, with games scheduled at Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. Each venue will host three group-stage matches. Dubai will host all of India’s matches, including their opener against Bangladesh on February 20 and the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan on February 23.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah also took to X to express his feelings towards the upcoming tournament.
“Very excited for the @ICC Men’s Champions Trophy to start in February,” read the post on X.
The semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 in Dubai and March 5 in Lahore, with reserve days allocated for both semi-finals and the final.
If India qualifies for the final, it will also be moved to Dubai; otherwise, Lahore will host the championship match.
Reserve days are scheduled for both semi-finals and the final. The Dubai leg begins on February 20 with India taking on Bangladesh. Group B campaign begins on February 21, with Afghanistan squaring up against South Africa in Karachi.
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The schedule was announced after a deadlock over the hosting of the tournament ended with the ICC keeping India’s games at a neutral venue as desired while having a similar arrangement for Pakistan for ICC events in India till 2027.
The hybrid arrangement will also apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka before being extended to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup which Pakistan will host.
India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the event due to security concerns. The Indians have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 150 people were killed.
The two countries’ last bilateral engagement was back in 2012. Travelling to Pakistan also requires Indian government’s clearance, which has remained firm on the status quo.
While the BCCI’s stance was always clear, the matter got stretched because of the PCB’s refusal to allow a “one-sided” arrangement of neutral venues.
PCB, which had sent its team to India for the ODI World Cup last year, had categorically opposed the hybrid model but eventually agreed to it on reciprocal grounds.
(With inputs from Agencies)
