As per sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently got in touch with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to express their desire to host the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai, UAE. The venue was decided following a meeting between Sheikh Mubarak Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB.  The meeting took place during Al Nahyan's tour to Pakistan in Sanghar in the Sindh province of Pakistan.

See also: ICC Champions Trophy schedule under consideration, India set to clash with Pakistan on Feb 23

Dubai nears the final stages of confirmation as the neutral venue

With PCB and ECB successfully coming to an agreement on selecting a neutral venue, Dubai has almost been bookmarked to host the iconic India-Pakistan clash. Additionally, two other venues such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are also in consideration but due to the ground's enormous seating capacity, Dubai will take precedence. 

A statement from a PCB official read the following: 

"The PCB has chosen the UAE as the neutral venue and the PCB has formally informed the ICC about the decision. Now, India and Pakistan's Champions Trophy matches will be held in the UAE. The final decision was made after a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Sheikh Al Nahyan." 

As per ICC, the selection of a neutral venue for any global event rests solely on the discretion of the host board. PCB also explored other options like Sri Lanka but eventually decided to narrow down to UAE.

Looking beyond Champions Trophy

As per the agreement reached by BCCI and PCB earlier, both boards have decided to play each other in what's now called a "fusion model". On December 19, the ICC confirmed that both India and Pakistan will face each other in future ICC events in neutral venues for the next three years.

This will apply to the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan), ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (India) and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (India and Sri Lanka). The clarity around venues for the forthcoming Indo-Pak clashes puts an end to a lingering dispute between India and Pakistan which has long existed due to ongoing political tensions.

The much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to begin on February 19 and will end on March 9 with March 10 reserved as a backup day. The marquee event was supposed to be held entirely in Pakistan but India's denial to send its national team to the neighboring nation resulted in a significant delay in the official announcement of the schedule on ICC's part.  

But in recent times, ICC achieved a major breakthrough by getting both the BCCI and the PCB on the same page. As per agreement, a fusion model has been adopted wherein India will play all their matches against Pakistan in a neutral venue and similarly, Pakistan will also refrain from traveling to India and play all their matches in a neutral venue as well.   

With the deadlock now coming to a close, the ICC is reportedly working on orchestrating the schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament and an official announcement about the same could soon be imminent. 

See also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting status set to be finalised

ICC's tentative schedule for the Champions Trophy

As per RevSports, India and Pakistan are believed to be in the same group. India, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh are placed in Group A. The Men in Blue is expected to kick off their campaign on February 20 by facing Bangladesh. Their next encounter is slated to be against Pakistan on February 23. However, the venue for the high-octane clash has not been decided yet. But as per sources, Dubai and Colombo could play host to this sizzling fixture. 

India is expected to play its last league against New Zealand on March 2. Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan are the other teams placed in Group B.

Group Composition for the 2025 Champions Trophy
 
Group A

- India
- Pakistan
- New Zealand
- Bangladesh
 
Group B

- Australia
- England
- South Africa
- Afghanistan

Tentative fixtures in the Champions Trophy 2025 (Times are in IST)

February 19, 2:30 pm Karachi Pakistan vs New Zealand

February 20, 2:30 pm Neutral Bangladesh vs India

February 21, 2:30 pm Karachi Afghanistan vs South Africa

February 22, 2:30 pm Lahore Australia vs England

February 23, 2:30 pm Neutral Pakistan vs India

February 24, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Bangladesh vs New Zealand

February 25, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Australia vs South Africa

February 26, 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs England

February 27, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Pakistan vs Bangladesh

February 28, 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs Australia

March 1, 2:30 pm Karachi South Africa vs England

March 2, 2:30 pm Neutral New Zealand vs India

March 4, 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final A1 vs B2

March 5, 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final B1 vs A2

March 9, 2:30 pm Neutral Final

March 10 - Neutral Reserve Day

Although a cloud of uncertainty looms over the fate of a neutral venue, the renovation work of the Pakistan stadiums is currently underway in full swing and is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.  

While Pakistan has the hosting rights for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tried hard to host the entire tournament in Pakistan. However, due to the strong objection from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the PCB is reportedly ready to change the ICC CT 2025 venues under some conditions. 

PCB is desperate to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

While the ICC Champions Trophy is set to return in 2025, the PCB is desperate to host the entire tournament in Pakistan between February and March 2025. It is the first ICC tournament for Pakistan since hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996. The PCB has selected Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

See Also: Pakistan opener Shahzaib Khan creates history in the ACC U19 Asia Cup

According to the PCB and media reports, while all the remaining six boards are ready to play in Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the BCCI has refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is desperate to welcome the Indian cricket team to Pakistan, but the BCCI has shown security reasons for not traveling to Pakistan.

Last Friday (November 29), the International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled a virtual board meeting to decide on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the ICC has reportedly brought the hybrid hosting model to the table, some of the PCB members have reportedly objected to the hybrid model. 

The conditions

While the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting decision is likely to be finalised this weekend, some news reports are claiming that the PCB has finally accepted the hybrid model to host the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 under some conditions.

Some of the reported conditions are as follows:

• An increase in the revenue from the ICC. 
• While the hybrid model will take away the final from Pakistan, the PCB wants Lahore to be a backup option for the Champions Trophy final in case India fail to qualify for the final.
• In the future, Pakistan won’t travel to India for any tournament. If India get the hosting rights, the BCCI also has to bring up the hybrid hosting model for Pakistan. 

If the ICC accepts the PCB’s conditions, the PCB is reportedly open to hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the hybrid model. 

With less than 100 days to go, the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy edition hangs in uncertainty as the Indian government reportedly denied clearance to the Men in Blue to tour the neighboring nation. Both nations have been locked in a decades-long political stan-doff which in recent times has also jeopardised their cricketing ties. 

While PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains adamant about hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan, India's persistent request to opt for a 'hybrid' model has put the ICC in a very difficult situation. On Friday, the ICC aims to resolve the deadlock between the two cricketing boards once and for all. The meeting will take place on November 29 with an aim to bring about a proposal that both India and Pakistan can jointly agree upon.

India's constant push for a hybrid model

Time and again, the BCCI has repeatedly quashed any possibility of sending the Rohit Sharma-led India team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy edition. 

The government of India has refused to provide any clearance to the Indian team citing security reasons. A similar approach was taken last year in the 50-over Asia Cup which despite the PCB's stubbornness, was played in a hybrid model. 

As was the case, the Indian government was reluctant to send its national team to Pakistan on the grounds of security concerns and as a result, the hybrid model was adopted in which all the Indian fixtures along with the knockout games were played in Sri Lanka. 

See also: Pakistan's Champions Trophy dream gets a massive hit

Moving the tournament outside Pakistan

PCB's firm stance against adopting a hybrid model can prove determinantal for Pakistan cricket. Not only will the board lose millions in revenue from the ICC, but the governing body may be forced to snatch the hosting rights from Pakistan and shift the tournament elsewhere to UAE or Sri Lanka. 

Moreover, against the backdrop of recent political unrest in Islamabad, the possibility of the tournament moving outside Pakistan looms large. The security is beefed up around the capital city as Imran Khan's supporters gather in lare groups to storm it. ICC will closely monitor the volatile situation from a distance and come to an immediate conclusion should the political tension escalate to a whole new level.

The last time the Indian team triumphed in this tournament was way back in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni and finished as the runners-up in 2017.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is busy making the final decision on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting. While Pakistan is still hoping for its best, the country’s dream gets a massive hit on Tuesday (November 26). 

Sri Lanka A was touring Pakistan for the first-class cricket and List A cricket series. In between the List A cricket series, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to postpone the series, and the A team will return to the country immediately after the consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

SEE ALSO: Abrar and Saim secure Pakistan's dominant series-level win against Zimbabwe

The reason for the postponement

Talking about the postponement of the series, the PCB reasoned the political activity in the capital city Islamabad. The city is experiencing mass protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) supporters. Former Pakistan ODI World Cup-winning captain and former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan is the leader of this party.

The PCB officially stated, "The Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket, has postponed the last two 50-over matches of the Pakistan Shaheens-Sri Lanka A series due to a political activity in the federal capital. The last two matches were scheduled for Wednesday and Friday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Both boards will collaborate to finalise new dates to complete the series."   

Due to the concern about the impact of the protest, the PCB already shifted the three-match List A series opener from Rawalpindi Cricket Ground to Islamabad Club, which was played as scheduled on November 25. The immediate venue change was crucial for the PCB, as the series-opener match was played after Imran Khan issued the "final call" for his supporters to march to Islamabad to demand many things, including his release from prison. While Rawalpindi is known as the twin city of Islamabad, the impact of the protest can be expected in the city. 

The present situation

Like Islamabad, Rawalpindi is also experiencing holidays in all public and private educational institutions. Train services have also been suspended between Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. On the other hand, the Islamabad protest has experienced massive violence, deaths, and an internet shutdown.  

While Islamabad Club hosted the List A series opener, Pakistan Shaheens won that fixture by 108 runs. However, according to the latest schedule, Rawalpindi Cricket Ground would host the last two List A fixtures on November 27 and 29.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Shaheens have already won the two-match first-class cricket series against Sri Lanka A by 1-0. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hosted both of those four-day matches, where Pakistan Shaheens won the first game by seven wickets, and the second match had a draw result. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025

In the meantime, the ICC will reportedly hold a virtual board meeting on November 29 to discuss the hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the PCB strongly wants to host the entire tournament in the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied sending the Indian team to Pakistan. 

While the ICC and BCCI are reportedly pushing the PCB to go for the hybrid model to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB is reluctant on it. However, the recent blow, the postponement of Sri Lanka A tour of Pakistan can put the PCB on the back foot. 

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been scheduled to be played between February and March 2025, but the PCB is facing a race against time moment after the latest chaos in the nation.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for the response of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy. PCB chairman is still hopeful to host the entire tournament successfully. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which has been scheduled for February. It will be the first ICC tournament in Pakistan after the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will participate in this tournament.

Recently, the BCCI officially informed the ICC that they will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

We are still waiting for their response: PCB chairman

A week ago, the PCB wrote to the ICC to get clarity on BCCI’s negative decision to play in Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB has also written to the BCCI to clarify in writing its stance on informing the governing body of the date mentioned. The PCB is still waiting for the responses.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, "We have sent them [ICC] the questions we had. We are still waiting for their response. I believe that sports and politics are separate and no country should mix the two. Even now I still have positive expectations about the Champions Trophy."

Nobody has any issues: Mohsin Naqvi

Talking about the BCCI’s negative response, Naqvi clarified that all other teams were ready to play in Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB chairman also added that the BCCI could talk with them about the concerns.  

Naqvi added, "At this moment, every team that has qualified for the Champions Trophy is ready to come. Nobody has any issues. I will say today also, if India has any concerns, speak to us about them, we can ease those concerns. I don't think there is any reason for them not to visit."

Pakistan's pride is of primary importance: PCB chairman

The PCB chairman was asked about his views on any possible boycott of the tournament if its hosting rights were taken away. In response, Naqvi claimed, "Pakistan's pride is of primary importance." 

After visiting seven other participating countries, the ICC Champions Trophy tour will enter Pakistan in January. While the PCB announced an original route of the trophy tour in Pakistan, the BCCI had an objection to its travel in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Administered Kashmir. While the PCB has altered the destination, the board hasn’t cancelled it yet. 

On this matter, Naqvi said, "My feeling is that the ICC will have to think about its credibility, that are they an organisation for all the world's bodies. And that route has been rescheduled, we haven't been told about any cancellation."

After a few hours of Jason Gillespie’s possible removal news as the head coach of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified its stance. 

Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie joined the Pakistan team as the head coach in Test cricket. Meanwhile, former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten was the head coach of the Pakistan ODI and T20I teams.

Recently, Kirsten resigned from the head coach role of the Pakistan white-ball teams, and Gillespie took those roles on an interim basis.

Jason Gillespie was the head coach of Pakistan white ball teams for Australia tour

Pakistan recently won the home Test series against England (by 2-1), despite losing the first match of the three-match Test series. Also, they won the three-match away ODI series against the hosts Australia by 2-1, where the Asian team suffered a close defeat in the opener. 

However, Pakistan have already lost the three-match T20I series against the hosts Australia with one match yet to be played.

PCB was reportedly searching for an all-format coach

According to ESPNcricinfo’s Sunday report, Gillespie would be removed from all the head coach roles of the Pakistan team. The report claimed that the official announcement would be released on Monday.

The report claimed that Gillespie was asked to continue his head coach roles for the Pakistan Test, ODI, and T20I sides with the present contract till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, the former Australian cricketer reportedly denied that offer. 

While the PCB wants an all-format coach, Gillespie will reportedly be removed after the end of the ongoing Australia tour. However, the PCB earlier stated that after completing the Australia tour, Gillespie would rejoin the Pakistan Test team in Johannesburg.

After completing the ongoing Australia tour on Monday, Pakistan will tour Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI and a three-match T20I series. Then, Pakistan will play another three-match T20I and a three-match ODI series against the hosts South Africa before a two-match Test series in the same tour.

PCB clarified their vision

After the viral news of ESPNcricinfo, the PCB strongly refused that story. The board reclaimed that Gillespie would rejoin the Pakistan Test team, which was earlier stated officially. 

PCB strongly refutes the story. As announced previously, Jason Gillespie will continue to coach the Pakistan side for the two red-ball matches against South Africa. https://t.co/J5MYKuq368

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 17, 2024

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) are busy to find solutions quickly. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It is the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup that Pakistan will host an ICC tournament. 

India last toured Pakistan in 2008. Even in the last Asia Cup (2023), which was played in the ODI format, Pakistan was the host nation, but the BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan forced the PCB to host the tournament in a hybrid model. Sri Lanka majorly hosted the Indian matches and the final. 

So, the BCCI’s negative decision to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was highly expected. 

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

What did the BCCI tell the ICC?

According to media reports, the BCCI has clarified that the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy is acceptable to them only if Dubai hosts the tournament final.  

A source told PTI, “Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India’s matches in UAE and the final in Dubai. The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai and not in Pakistan. The ICC has told the PCB that if it decides to go ahead with the hosting of the mega event on a Hybrid Model it would get its full hosting fees and majority of the matches.”

Present status on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy on a hybrid model

Meanwhile, the PCB wants clarifications from the ICC on BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan. According to media reports, the PCB is still not thinking of hosting the tournament on a hybrid model and is hopeful to host the complete tournament in Pakistan. 

A PCB source told PTI, "There is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a Hybrid Model system as of now. An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision. As of now, the entire situation is being gauged by the PCB. No decision has been taken on the next step. Yes, the PCB is in touch with the government for consultation and directives if required."

The ICC Champions Trophy is returning after eight years. England and Wales hosted the last ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where Pakistan won their first title in the competition after beating the defending champions India in the final of the tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will run between eight teams. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England will participate in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. 

After narrowly missing out in the first ODI in Melbourne, the Men in Green roared back in form in the second ODI to hammer Australia left, right, and center at the Adelaide Oval. Haris Rauf was the demolition man for Pakistan as his fiery spell of fast bowling decimated the 2023 ODI World Cup champions for a paltry 163. The speedster bagged his best bowling figures of 5-29 against Australia and accounted for the dismissals of  Inglis, Labuschagne, Hardie, Maxwell, and Cummins.

After bamboozling Australia for such a below-par total, the chase was all too easy for the Rizwan-led Pakistan side as Ayub and Shafique smashed a century-plus opening stand for the first wicket to help Pakistan set the tone for a massive victory. In the end, Pakistan got to their required target of 164 with nine wickets and 23 overs to spare. This win was also their first win on Australian shores since 2017 and their first ever at the Adelaide Oval since 1996.

See also: Josh Inglis named as the temporary captain for the white-ball series against Pakistan

So what did Pakistan manage to achieve? 

Following their emphatic nine-wicket win in Adelaide, Pakistan have stumbled upon a prod record. The Green Shirts have left behind the likes of India and Sri Lanka to become the only Asian team with the most number of wins in ODIs against Australia in their own backyard. They have now registered 18 wins in 54 matches against the Kangaroos in their own turf. This was also their 35th ODI against Australia in this format.   

India and Sri Lanka on the other hand have only managed to secure 14 and 16 wins respectively whereas Afghanistan and Bangladesh are yet to feature in an ODI match against Australia down under. 

What does the win mean for the team?

Following their emmphatic nine-wicket win, it goes without saying that the Pakistan team was extremly elated after delivering such a ground-breaking performance against a tough Australian team. Pakistan, under the new leadership of Mohammed Rizwan found a way to play with an attacking approach which took the hosts by storm. 

Rizwan lauded the bowlers for delivering such an impressive win and expressed that such a big win gives his side the confidence to do a lot better in the coming days. 

"Obviously this win gives us confidence. We want to keep that confidence going. All bowlers had plans and they worked well."

With the series now level at 1-1, the stage is set for an intense showdown at Perth where the two sides will lock horns yet again in what appears to be an enthralling decider. 

The question of whether India will travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been stirring debate on social media and in cricketing circles. Set to kick off on February 19, 2025, with the final on March 9, the Champions Trophy will be hosted across three venues in Pakistan—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. With tensions high due to strained political relations between India and Pakistan, fans and analysts alike are keenly watching for decisions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding their team’s participation.

PCB confident of hosting India; Rizwan hopes for a warm welcome

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently expressed optimism about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, stating that the tournament would proceed as planned with all teams present. Naqvi emphasized Pakistan’s readiness and the country’s hope to see their historic rivals in Pakistani stadiums. Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s newly appointed limited-overs captain, echoed Naqvi’s sentiments, highlighting the warmth and camaraderie that cricket can foster between the two nations.

"Pakistan fans love Indian players; we received love in India during the 2023 World Cup,” Rizwan shared. “We also want India to come to Pakistan and play here. If they come, they’ll receive an awesome welcome.” Rizwan’s remarks, along with Naqvi’s confidence, underscore Pakistan’s desire to bridge gaps through cricket, even as political challenges remain.

"Pakistan fans love Indian players; we received love in India during the 2023 World Cup. I'm unsure if they're coming for the Champions Trophy, but one thing is certain - if they come, they'll receive an awesome welcome here." pic.twitter.com/oFfaP4jbzw

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) October 29, 2024

See Also: CSK’s retention hints spark IPL 2025 buzz

Concerns over player safety linger: Harbhajan Singh shares his take

The possibility of India’s participation, however, face hurdles beyond just political factors. Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh raised concerns about player safety in Pakistan, which has long been a contentious issue for Indian cricket. “Safety is paramount for our players. If there’s no guarantee of safety, our players shouldn’t travel to Pakistan,” he said in an interview with Times of India. Harbhajan’s views reflect a broader sentiment within Indian cricket circles that the security situation must be thoroughly evaluated before any travel decisions are made.

While the PCB is hopeful for a successful tournament featuring all teams, including India, the ultimate decision rests with the BCCI and the Indian government. Political tensions and security issues will continue to shape the debate leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy, with fans across both nations eagerly awaiting a potential showdown.