The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially approved a hybrid hosting model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, following an agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Under this arrangement, matches will be split between Pakistan and Dubai, addressing geopolitical concerns while ensuring the smooth execution of the tournament.
As part of the agreement, Pakistan will host 10 matches, including games in Lahore and Rawalpindi. However, all of India’s league-stage matches, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash, will be held in Dubai. The semifinals and final are also scheduled for Dubai unless India is eliminated at the league stage. In that case, the semifinal and final will be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The tournament, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, will feature eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages.
Agreement on 2026 T20 World Cup
The PCB and BCCI have also reached a consensus regarding the 2026 T20 World Cup. Pakistan will not travel to India for their league-stage match against India, which will instead be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The tournament is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
While the PCB will not receive financial compensation for forgoing the opportunity to host India matches, they have secured the hosting rights for an ICC Women’s tournament after 2027 as part of the arrangement.