With India Refusing to Play in Pakistan, ICC Offers Dubai as Neutral Ground for India’s Matches and the Final
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has proposed a hybrid hosting model for the 2025 Champions Trophy following India’s decision to forgo traveling to Pakistan, the original host country. This model suggests that while Pakistan would retain hosting rights and conduct most matches, India’s games and the tournament final could be relocated to Dubai. This proposal aims to address India’s security concerns and facilitate a compromise that allows the tournament to proceed smoothly.
According to sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ICC reached out to request their stance on this hybrid arrangement. The ICC has assured the PCB that they would still receive the full hosting fee and manage most games in Pakistan. However, under the hybrid model, Dubai would host India’s matches and the final, creating a neutral ground to mitigate geopolitical concerns.
The BCCI had earlier conveyed to the ICC that it would participate only if the final and India’s matches were held in a neutral location outside Pakistan. As a result, the ICC is now attempting to balance the interests of both cricket boards. Should the PCB reject the hybrid arrangement, the ICC is reportedly considering South Africa as an alternative venue to host the Champions Trophy in its entirety, thus avoiding complications that could arise from the India-Pakistan standoff.
The PCB has not yet given an official response but is reportedly consulting with its legal advisors and government officials to consider its options. Should the board reject the hybrid model, the PCB could escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where it may pursue legal action against the BCCI and ICC.
For now, the PCB is weighing its choices, including options proposed by local media, such as refraining from playing India altogether. Pakistan and India have not played each other on Pakistani soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the two nations currently only meet in ICC or Asian tournaments. This situation adds another layer of complexity to an already tense cricketing relationship, making the ICC’s proposal a critical juncture for the future of the Champions Trophy and potentially for the broader cricketing landscape between these rival nations.
