After months of delay, the International Cricket Council (ICC) finally officially declared the venues of the Champions Trophy.
The confusion around the venue of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is over. After months of delay, the International Cricket Council (ICC) finally officially declared the venues for the elite event. “ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is to be played across Pakistan and in a neutral venue,” the ICC said in a statement. India will play all its matches, including the knockout games, at a neutral venue.
The other important decision the Jay Shah-led world body has taken is that all India vs Pakistan cricket matches in ICC events hosted by the two countries will be played at neutral venues till 2027.
The ICC Board confirmed on Thursday, 19 December, that India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle should be played at a neutral venue.
“This will apply to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host in February and March 2025; the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, to be hosted by India; and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.”
The ICC’s ‘compromise’ means that for the first time, the Indian cricket team will have to travel outside its own country to play Pakistan in an ICC event, despite being the host or co-host. For a country that boasts itself to be a cricket powerhouse, that might hurt.
For over a decade, India and Pakistan have faced each other only in ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events. During this period, whenever Pakistan organized an ICC or ACC event, India did not travel to the country and played all its matches at a neutral venue.
