In a historic move, Pakistan’s Chairman PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, has finally compelled the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to accept all of Pakistan’s terms. The decision follows India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, leading to a three-year ban on India playing in Pakistan.
Now, both nations will compete on neutral venues for the next three years, with the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 being a prime example. If India reaches the final, they will play at a neutral venue, and Pakistan has also secured the hosting rights for the Women’s World Cup 2028.
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi stated during an informal conversation with journalists, “This time, India won’t backtrack from the written agreement. We won’t let them escape like before.” While the venues for India’s matches—Dubai and Sri Lanka—haven’t been finalized, the agreement for neutral venues for Champions Trophy matches between Pakistan and India is now in place.
This marks Pakistan’s return to hosting a major ICC event for the first time since the ICC One-Day World Cup in 1996 and the 2008 Asia Cup. All matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held from February 19 to March 19 in three major Pakistani cities—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
Previously, the BCCI had proposed to shift their matches to neutral venues due to India’s government prohibiting a visit to Pakistan. However, the PCB remains firm on hosting the tournament without India, opposing the idea of neutral venues.
India hasn’t played in Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008, and there hasn’t been a bilateral series between the two nations since Pakistan’s tour to India from 2013 to 2012. Last year, Pakistan was awarded the hosting rights for the Asia Cup but India refused to travel, leading to a hybrid model where all of India’s matches were scheduled in Sri Lanka. In the final held in Colombo, India easily defeated Sri Lanka to win the title.
The PCB governing board has ratified the chairman’s decisions, and Pakistan will defend its Champions Trophy title as the reigning champions, having last won the tournament in 2017 under Sarfraz Ahmed’s captaincy.