On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the UAE would serve as the neutral venue for India’s matches during the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in Pakistan.
A PCB spokesperson stated that the Board had officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of its decision. He clarified that selecting a neutral venue for the eight-nation tournament was Pakistan’s responsibility.
As a result, the India-Pakistan matches of the Champions Trophy will be played in the UAE.
The final decision on the neutral venue came after a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and UAE Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who also serves as the chairman of the UAE Cricket Board. The meeting, held in Ghotki, focused on enhancing bilateral relations and promoting cricket between the two countries.
An agreement was reached to further strengthen cricket ties, with the PCB inviting Sheikh Nahyan to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy matches. Sheikh Nahyan wished for the successful organization of the tournament, emphasizing the importance of UAE-Pakistan relations.
The decision on the neutral venue follows the ICC’s announcement that India would play its matches at a neutral location instead of Pakistan, as part of a two-way hybrid model proposed by the PCB. This arrangement will also apply to future tournaments in India and Pakistan until 2027.
