DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be hosted by Pakistan under a hybrid model, with India set to play their matches at a neutral venue.
The announcement ended a month-long stalemate after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year, scheduled to be played in February and March, because of security fears and political tensions.
ICC Board finalised the agreement under which ICC events from 2025 to 2027, hosted by Pakistan and India, will be played under a hybrid model.
The agreement will apply to several major ICC events, including the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy, the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the statement issued by the cricket council said.
Under the agreement, Pakistan will also play in upcoming ICC tournaments hosted by India at neutral venues.
Under the agreement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also been awarded hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, which also follows the neutral venue model for India.
The schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be announced soon, with Pakistan aiming to defend the title they won in 2017. The eight-team event also features Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
