Dubai has been officially confirmed as the venue for all of India’s matches during the Champions Trophy 2025, including one semi-final and possibly the final, should India qualify.
The ICC schedule, released on Tuesday, specifies that "semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify" and will take place in Dubai. Similarly, "semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify." While Lahore is set to host the final, it will shift to Dubai if India qualifies. Both semi-finals and the final will have reserve days, according to an ICC statement.
This decision stems from an agreement finalized after Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman, met with Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak, a senior UAE minister and head of the Emirates Cricket Board. Naqvi expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “We are pleased that an agreement has been reached based on the principles of equality and respect, showcasing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that defines our sport. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the ICC members for their constructive role in achieving this mutually beneficial solution."
The marquee India-Pakistan group-stage clash is scheduled for February 23, a Sunday. India’s other group matches include Bangladesh on February 20 and New Zealand on March 2. The eight-team tournament will feature two groups. Group 1 includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group 2 features Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. Matches for both groups, excluding India’s, will be hosted in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
The Champions Trophy will kick off with Pakistan, the defending champions, facing New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. Pakistan’s final league-stage game will be against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27. The semi-finals are slated for March 4 and March 5, with reserve days allocated. While rare, there’s a possibility that weather conditions could lead to both semi-finals being played on the same day. However, Dubai’s typically dry climate reduces this likelihood.
The hybrid hosting model ensures that Pakistan’s matches in ICC events hosted by India until 2027 will also be held at neutral venues. This arrangement begins with the Champions Trophy and extends to the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan. Knockout games, including semi-finals and finals, will also be played at neutral venues under this agreement.
Updated on 24th December, 2024 by MyFortune11 Team