NEWS
Follow UsThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly conveyed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the neutral games in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The ICC confirmed earlier this week that the 2025 Champions Trophy will follow a hybrid model, with India playing all their matches at a neutral venue instead of Pakistan. The board also confirmed that, likewise, Pakistan will not play any ICC game in India for the next three years.
Now, Cricbuzz reports that the UAE has been finalised as the neutral venue for the mega event next year. Sri Lanka was also a favourite to act as the neutral hosts, but UAE seems to have got the nod.
"The PCB has chosen the UAE as the neutral venue and the PCB has formally informed the ICC about the decision. Now, India and Pakistan's Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE," a PCB spokesperson said, reported Cricbuzz.
"The final decision was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan."
This development means that should India reach the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, the finale of the competition will be played somewhere in UAE - even if Pakistan make it to the summit clash.
Earlier this year, the Women’s T20 World Cup was also played entirely in the UAE. The UAE also hosted the 2020 Indian Premier League, the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup and a part of the 2021 Indian Premier League.
