New Delhi [India], December 19: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy will be hosted across Pakistan and a neutral venue. This arrangement will also apply to all ICC events scheduled in the 2024-2027 rights cycle for India and Pakistan.
According to an ICC statement, the board confirmed, “Matches between India and Pakistan, hosted by either country during the 2024-2027 rights cycle, will be played at a neutral venue.”
This decision impacts several upcoming ICC tournaments, including the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy (hosted by Pakistan), the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (hosted by India), and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also been awarded the hosting rights for the 2028 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with similar neutral venue arrangements in place.
As per the schedule, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and hosts Pakistan. The event is set to take place in February and March 2025, with Pakistan aiming to defend their title after winning the 2017 edition by defeating India in the final.
The strained political relationship between India and Pakistan means that India has not toured Pakistan since 2008. Their last bilateral series took place in 2012-13 in India, with both nations mostly meeting in ICC events and Asia Cups since then.