The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be played under a hybrid model, with matches between India and Pakistan taking place at neutral venues.
This decision, confirmed by the ICC Board, is part of an agreement covering ICC events from 2024 to 2027.
The agreement will apply to several major ICC events, including the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy, which will be hosted by Pakistan, the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, Pakistan has been awarded the hosting rights for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, which will also follow the neutral venue arrangement.
The neutral venues for these games will be proposed by the host boards and approved by the ICC.
In a separate development, a report from ESPNcricinfo suggests that a triangular T20I series involving India, Pakistan, and another Asian or Associate nation could be organized at neutral venues. This would serve as compensation for Pakistan’s inability to host India’s matches during the Champions Trophy.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, although the official tournament schedule has yet to be released due to ongoing uncertainties regarding the venues.
