The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for the much-awaited ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
The announcement was made by PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir, who revealed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been informed of the venue’s decision.
In a statement, Aamir Mir shared, “The Champions Trophy matches between India and Pakistan will be held in the UAE as decided after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Nahyan. The decision for a neutral venue had to be taken by the host, Pakistan.”
The final decision to host the tournament in the UAE follows important discussions between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Nahyan, who is currently in Pakistan.
This decision is part of a broader agreement where matches between India and Pakistan in ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played in neutral locations, ensuring logistical and safety viability.
The ‘merger formula’ will apply to major ICC tournaments after the Champions Trophy, including the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (hosted in India) and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka).
According to this formula, the knockout stage matches, including the final, will be played at a neutral venue if India and Pakistan qualify.
The PCB has also been awarded hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028.
