The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in a hybrid model, with India-focused matches taking place in Dubai.
Highlights:
- The 2025 Champions Trophy will be played in a hybrid model.
- India will play all their matches at a neutral venue.
- Originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, the 2025 Champions Trophy will now be played in a hybrid model. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) reached an agreement to adopt this model for global tournaments hosted in Pakistan or India, including women’s cricket between the two arch-rivals, until 2027.
As per the agreement, India and Pakistan will play their ICC matches at a neutral venue. Sources close to Sports Tak reveal that India’s games will be held in Dubai. If India qualifies for the semifinals, the match will take place at a neutral venue. However, Lahore has been designated as a backup location for the clash if needed.
To ensure fair arrangements, the PCB will not receive any additional compensation or revenue from the ICC for matches held at a neutral venue. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also rejected the PCB’s proposal for a tri-series against India.
The PCB has now approached its government and is expected to confirm the arrangements to the ICC by December 7, with the schedule set to be released by the end of this week.
Initially, the PCB had planned to kick off the Champions Trophy on February 19, with Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as the host cities. However, those plans changed after the BCCI refused to send Team India to Pakistan, citing concerns over player safety. Due to the ongoing dispute between the PCB and BCCI, the ICC has yet to release the schedule for the tournament.
