Dubai Chosen as Neutral Venue for 2025 Champions Trophy India Matches

In recent communications, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has indicated to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that Dubai will serve as the neutral venue for India’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This decision followed extensive discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A PCB spokesman, Amir Mir, stated that the agreement was reached after a meeting held on December 21 between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board.

The meeting was crucial in finalising the venue, as reported by Geo News, which noted that Dubai was selected for its premier infrastructure and accessibility. The ICC and tournament broadcasters also expressed their support for Dubai as a neutral and convenient location. Under the hybrid hosting model established, Pakistan will accommodate most matches, including the final. However, India's group-stage matches, as well as any knockout games, are set to occur in Dubai. Should India advance to the semi-finals or finals, those matches would also take place at this neutral location.

The hybrid arrangement, which arose from prolonged negotiations, seeks to ease the political tensions between India and Pakistan and is anticipated to carry forward into future tournaments, including the Women's ODI World Cup and the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. Overall, the confirmation of Dubai as a neutral venue highlights its role as a diplomatic solution in cricketing relations.