India to play 2025 Champions Trophy on neutral ground, not Pakistan: ICC

In response to India refusing to play in Pakistan, the world cricketing body announces ICC events hosted in either country to be played at neutral venues until 2027.

India will play next year’s Champions Trophy matches on neutral ground after refusing to visit Pakistan, hosts and archrivals, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said following weeks of wrangling.

In return, Pakistan will also play upcoming ICC tournaments hosted by India in other countries, which are yet to be decided.

“India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC Board confirmed,” said a statement released by the body on Thursday.

“This will apply to the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.”

The agreement will extend to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 hosted by India, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the statement added.

The announcement ended a monthlong standoff over the 2025 Champions Trophy after India told the ICC it would not send its team to Pakistan because of security fears and political tension. The tournament will be held in Pakistan from February 19 until March 9, 2025.

“The match schedule for the men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be confirmed in the coming days,” the ICC said.

Team India has not visited Pakistan since 2008, and the rivals play each other only at multi-team events.

They last played a bilateral series in December 2012 and January 2013 when Pakistan toured India for a white ball series. India last visited Pakistan for a bilateral commitment in early 2006.

The Pakistan team travelled to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup in October-November 2023 and played all their matches in the country.

The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan since it shared the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan also hosted the Asia Cup last year, but the winners, India, played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model”.

At the time, India said they had not received permission from their government to tour Pakistan.

Pakistan won the last ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, thrashing India in the final by 180 runs in London, United Kingdom.

india pakistan fans
Fans wave the national flags of India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023 ODI cricket match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on September 2, 2023 [Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]

Source

:

Al Jazeera and news agencies

Read More

  • Related Posts

    India arrests Kashmir resident over deadly Delhi car blast

    Authorities say the arrested man is the owner of the car that exploded near the Red Fort. Indian investigators have arrested a resident of Indian-administered Kashmir, identifying him as an…

    India win T20 series against Australia after washout in fifth match

    Final T20 of the five-match series was abandoned after 4.5 overs as thunderstorm and rain forced players off the field in Brisbane. India have claimed a 2-1 win in the…

    You Missed

    Watch out Keir! The ‘pasta plotters’ are back as renegade Labour MP gather in Italian restaurant to ‘discuss Starmer’s leadership woes’

    Watch out Keir! The ‘pasta plotters’ are back as renegade Labour MP gather in Italian restaurant to ‘discuss Starmer’s leadership woes’

    Bombshell claim from the parents of the Aussie teens who died from methanol poisoning

    Bombshell claim from the parents of the Aussie teens who died from methanol poisoning

    ICE agents fired at in Chicago drive-by shooting as Homeland Security say violence towards officers is growing

    ICE agents fired at in Chicago drive-by shooting as Homeland Security say violence towards officers is growing

    David Lammy mocked for ‘ordering civil servants’ at the Ministry of Justice to call him ‘Deputy Prime Minister’

    David Lammy mocked for ‘ordering civil servants’ at the Ministry of Justice to call him ‘Deputy Prime Minister’

    This year’s 80ft 12-ton Rockefeller Center Christmas tree rides into NYC to kick off the holidays

    This year’s 80ft 12-ton Rockefeller Center Christmas tree rides into NYC to kick off the holidays

    ‘We will remember them’: Princess of Wales’s touching tribute to the fallen at moving Armistice Day service

    • By poster
    • January 8, 2026
    • 2 views
    ‘We will remember them’: Princess of Wales’s touching tribute to the fallen at moving Armistice Day service