United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the neutral destination of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The decision was made after the ICC approved the hybrid model system proposed by the PCB. The event will start on February 19, 2025, with eight teams competing in two groups, to be played on the grounds in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. However, all the matches involving India, including the awaited one against Pakistan, would likely be played in UAE.
This arrangement is part of the consensus built in December 2023 whereby the ICC decided where India was concerned; that is, India matches in a tournament organized by Pakistan and also applies the other way for Pakistan matches in a tournament organized by India. This regards the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
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The hybrid model is an answer to administer the increasingly tense relationship between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB. The ICC resolution ensures matches between India and Pakistan do not find themselves being played in each other’s countries so that it does not lead to instability and conflict.
There would be eight competing teams namely Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the hosts Pakistan under the banner of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. It would thus be considered a great platform showing cricketing talents across the globe.