PCB confirm Dubai as neutral venue for ICC Champions Trophy

Dubai and Colombo were talked about as the potential neutral venues for the ICC Champions Trophy. In the end, Dubai has been selected.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed to the International Cricket Board (ICC) that they have finalised Dubai, UAE, as the neutral venue for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. PCB had accepted to host the 8-team tournament in a hybrid model after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had clearly stated that the Indian cricket team won’t travel to Pakistan for the tournament.

Dubai to host India vs Pakistan match

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had a meeting with the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) head, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, in Pakistan on December 21 regarding the scheduling of the ICC Champions Trophy, and it seems they have reached an agreement.

“We have conveyed to the ICC that Dubai will be the neutral venue after a meeting between PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Mubarak Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board in Pakistan on Sunday,” PCB spokesman Amir Mir said in a release.

Dubai will now host Team India’s three group-stage matches against Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. If the Men in Blue qualify for the semifinal and final, it will also hold those matches. Right now, the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy hasn’t been released, but given almost everything is confirmed, it’s expected to come out soon.

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The PCB-BCCI deal

Originally, the schedule for the tournament was to be announced by November 11. However, due to a stalemate between the PCB and BCCI, it has been continuously detailed. Once the PCB decided to accept the hybrid model on December 19, things started to happen quickly.

The PCB only accepted the deal after the ICC granted the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 to Pakistan and assured them that they would play all of the India vs Pakistan matches for the next four years in a neutral venue. This means that Pakistan won’t play India at the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India. Furthermore, the ICC isn’t against the idea of a triangular or quadrangular series that will feature India, Pakistan, and other Asian teams.