Neutral Venue for India-Pakistan Match in Champions Trophy - Dubai

Neutral Venue for India-Pakistan Match in Champions Trophy - Dubai

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the India-Pakistan match in next year's ICC Champions Trophy will be moved from Pakistan to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Due to the bitter political relations between India and Pakistan, India has not toured Pakistan for any bilateral series since 2008. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following the advice of the Indian government, has also refused to play in Pakistan for this event.

On Sunday, PCB spokesperson Amir Meer confirmed via email that the Pakistan Cricket Board had selected the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue.

The tournament will be held in February and March, with eight teams participating.

The ICC recently announced that matches between India and Pakistan in its organized tournaments will be held at neutral venues outside both countries. This arrangement will also apply to the Men's Champions Trophy, Women's ODI World Cup, and future T20 World Cups.

The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC tournament held in Pakistan since 1996, when India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka jointly hosted the event.

This decision is expected to mark a new chapter in India-Pakistan cricket relations.