India will play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the UAE. The decision, though widely expected, was finalised after Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, met with Sheikh Nahyan al Mubarak in Pakistan. Sheikh Nahyan is a senior UAE minister and also the head of the Emirates Cricket Board.
“The PCB has picked the UAE as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy,” PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said.
Apart from Pakistan, the other teams in India’s group are Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will play against Bangladesh on February 20, and against New Zealand on March 2. The first semi-final, if India make it to that stage, will also be played in the UAE. If India don’t qualify, the game will be held in Pakistan. The final, on March 9, is slotted for Lahore, with the provision of holding it in the UAE if India make it that far.
Pakistan will kick off the tournament on February 19 when they face New Zealand in Karachi. Pakistan’s other league match, against Bangladesh, will be played in Rawalpindi on February 27.
The other group has Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa. The matches for both groups – apart from the India games – will be played across Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. All India games will likely be played in Dubai.
The two semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 (without a reserve day) and March 5 (with a reserve day). The final on March 9 also has a reserve day.
The impasse was broken after the parties involved agreed on the hybrid model of India’s matches not being held in Pakistan but in the UAE. In return, Pakistan’s matches at ICC events hosted by India till 2027 will also be at a neutral venue. In both instances, all matches are taken to include knockout games such as the semis and the final.
The agreement begins with the Champions Trophy, and will apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It could also apply to the 2028 women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next events cycle that has now been awarded to Pakistan.