India will play its Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the United Arab Emirates. The decision, though widely expected, was taken after Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the PCB, met Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak in Pakistan. Sheikh Nahyan is a senior minister of the UAE and also the director of the Emirates cricket Board.
“The PCB has chosen the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy,” said PCB spokesperson Amir Mir.
The Pakistan vs India league match will be played on Sunday, February 23. Apart from Pakistan, the other two teams in India’s group are Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will face Bangladesh on February 20 and New Zealand on March 2. All of these games are likely to be held in Dubai.
Defending champions Pakistan will begin the tournament on February 19 against New Zealand in Karachi. Pakistan’s last league match, against Bangladesh, will be played in Rawalpindi on February 27.
The second group is made up of Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa. The matches of both groups, apart from India, will be played in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The two semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 (without reserve day) and March 5 (with reserve day). The final on March 9 also has a reserve day. The first semi-final, if India reaches that stage, will be played in the United Arab Emirates. If India fails to qualify, the match will be held in Pakistan. The final is scheduled for Lahore, with the condition of holding it in the United Arab Emirates if India makes it that far.
The agreement begins with the Champions Trophy and will apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It will also apply to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next cycle of events which has now been awarded to Pakistan.
