Champions Trophy 2025: marvelbet PCB confirms UAE as neutral venue for India matches

marvelbet India refused to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy due to security concerns.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday confirmed that all India's matches, including the semi-finals and finals, will be played at neutral venues in a hybrid format.

"The UAE was finalized as the venue following a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Emirates Cricket Board Chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan," PCB spokesman Amir Mir said in a statement on Sunday.

Mir said the PCB had "informed the ICC" about the selection. The PCB's statement did not confirm that the Games would be held in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai considered the most likely venue.

Pakistan will not participate in the ICC events in India in the 2024-27 cycle. Pakistan will also travel to neutral venues when India hosts the 2025 Women's World Cup and the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.

India will play three group matches in the Champions Trophy 2025, including one against Pakistan. Depending on India's progress in the tournament, the UAE will also host a semi-final and final.

The latest announcement paves the way for the International Cricket Council to announce the February-March match schedule in the coming days.

Political tensions between Pakistan and India have prevented teams from the two countries from visiting each other's countries since 2012 when Pakistan traveled to India for a one-day bilateral international series.

The two teams regularly face off in ICC tournaments - last year Pakistan traveled to India for the Men's World Cup. But before the World Cup, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and played all their matches in Sri Lanka.