CT 2025: PCB choose UAE as neutral venue for India games

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially chosen the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue for India's matches in the Champions Trophy.

Dubai is almost confirmed to be the venue for the big India-Pakistan game, likely to be played on February 23.

"The PCB has chosen the UAE as the neutral venue and the PCB has formally informed the ICC about the decision. Now, India and Pakistan's Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE," a spokesman for the PCB said. "The final decision was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan."

The ICC board decision states that the choice of neutral venue for a global event will be at the discretion of the host board. The PCB also considered Sri Lanka but ultimately chose the UAE.

The ICC approved neutral venues for the India-Pakistan games in global events for the next three years. This will apply to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka).

With clarity on the neutral venue, the prolonged uncertainty over the Champions Trophy has ended. The stage is now set for the unveiling of the final schedule of the eight-team February 19 – March 9 competition. The ICC is most likely to announce it on Monday.