The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a key decision regarding matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan during ICC events in the ongoing rights cycle from 2024 to 2027.
In a significant development, the ICC Board has approved that all India-Pakistan games in ICC events (which are to be hosted in India or Pakistan) during this period will be played at neutral venues proposed by the tournament host.
This decision will affect several marquee tournaments, including the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted by Pakistan; the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in India; and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
“In addition, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.” ICC said.
The official match schedule for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which marks the return of this prestigious tournament after a gap of eight years, is expected to be released in the coming days.
The neutral venue for India-Pakistan matches during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is yet to be announced. However, reports suggest that PCB is considering the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka as potential hosts for these high-profile encounters.
The Champions Trophy faced uncertainty when India announced its team would not travel to Pakistan to participate in the tournament. Initially, the PCB opposed the idea of a hybrid model but later agreed to it, provided the arrangement applied equally to both nations, ensuring fairness and mutual respect in hosting arrangements.
