Neutral Venue for India-Pakistan Clash in Champions Trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will serve as the neutral venue for India’s matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy. This decision solidifies Dubai as the likely location for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter, scheduled for February 23.

The choice of the UAE came after discussions between Sheikh Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the PCB, during a meeting in Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan. Sheikh Al Nahyan, currently touring Pakistan, played a key role in the agreement. Although Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are also international cricket venues in the UAE, Dubai was favoured due to its larger capacity and infrastructure.

A PCB spokesperson confirmed the development, stating that the PCB officially selected the UAE as the neutral venue and communicated the decision to the ICC. The final choice followed thorough deliberations, during which Sri Lanka was also considered but ultimately set aside in favour of the UAE.

The ICC had previously clarified in December that neutral venues for India-Pakistan matches at global tournaments would be determined by the hosting board. 

The Statement from December 19th read: "The ICC Board has today approved that matches between India and Pakistan played at ICC Events during the current rights cycle from 2024 to 2027 (which are to be hosted in India or Pakistan) will be played at a neutral venue proposed by the tournament host. This will apply to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka)."

The decision puts an end to the lingering uncertainty that arose after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced last month that the Indian team would not travel to Pakistan. With the neutral venue now finalised, the ICC is expected to unveil the schedule for the eight-team competition, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, with an announcement likely on Monday.

This resolution ensures that fans can now look forward to the iconic rivalry on neutral ground, setting the stage for an exciting Champions Trophy.