ICC Finalizes India-Pakistan Matches at Neutral Venues for Next 5 Years

The International Cricket Council on December 19 announced that the 2025 Champions Trophy would be held in a hybrid model, where India would play all its matches at a neutral venue. This decision is going to affect the events in the 2024-2027 rights cycle. India and Pakistan's games will be played at neutral venues.

According to the ICC statement, "India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue." This means Pakistan will not be traveling to India for their fixtures in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup or the 2026 T20 World Cup, as confirmed by PTI earlier.

The ICC confirmed on December 19 that the 2025 Champions Trophy would be played in a hybrid model. The Indian matches would be played at a neutral venue. This was after India had declined to travel to Pakistan for the event. The ICC has stated that such a rule will also be applicable for the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted in India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (being hosted by India and Sri Lanka).

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on 19 February 2025 in Pakistan; however, India is not eager to travel to Pakistan due to which the matches that are going to be between India and Pakistan will have to be played at the neutral venues.

Hybrid Model for ICC Tournaments in India and Pakistan (2024-2027)

The PCB has been granted the right to host the 2028 ICC Women's T20 World Cup with neutral venue arrangements. In addition, Cricket Australia will host one of the senior ICC women's events during the 2029-2031 cycle. "It was also announced that the PCB has been awarded the hosting rights of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.

Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy and India's matches will be at a neutral venue. This tournament of 50 overs will take place from February to March in the year 2025. A hybrid model rule will be adopted by ICC for all India-Pakistan tournaments being hosted in 2024-27 cycles. Pakistan will not travel to India for the Women's World Cup in 2025 or the T20 World Cup in 2026. The Women's T20 World Cup has been awarded to Pakistan in 2028.

According to reports, Pakistan will not get the compensation for losing part of their Champions Trophy hosting rights. The schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy will be announced soon.

"Cricket Australia is scheduled to host one of the senior ICC women's events during the period 2029-2031. The schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to be announced shortly, with Pakistan keen on defending the title it had won in 2017. The eight-team event will include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, besides hosts Pakistan," added the statement.

Schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be finalized soon, and Pakistan hopes to defend the title which was clinched by the team in 2017. The eight-team event is going to feature Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, and hosts Pakistan.