Colombo snubbed for Champions Trophy 2025 as PCB, BCCI reach agreement on neutral venue: Reports

Amid the ongoing fiasco around the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to announce the schedule for the marquee tournament soon. However, the tournament has been approved to be played in a hybrid model with India and Pakistan playing all its matches until 2027 cycle at neutral venues.

With this, either of Sri Lanka or the UAE could host the matches of the upcoming tournament. But according to latest reports, the matches are set to be played in the UAE after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reached an agreement of neutral venue choice.

Dubai likely to host India-Pakistan matches in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

With the ICC taking a tough call on PCB to move the tournament in a hybrid model, India and Pakistan are set to play the match in the UAE. However, a clarity on the same is still awaited from the ICC. As per a report, while Colombo was touted as a strong choice after being co-host of the 2023 Asia Cup, it appears that Sri Lanka will not get the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025.

According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, all stakeholders, including BCCI, PCB have reached an agreement that Dubai will serve as the neutral venue. As per it, the gulf country will host at least five matches in the tournament, which includes all three matches of the Indian cricket team. One semi-final and the final are also expected to move to Dubai.

Moreover, several reports have revealed that India has been placed in Group A, alongside Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. While they are set to host Bangladesh on February 20, the much-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash is likely to be held on February 23. However, a clarity on the same will come once the ICC announces the schedule of the tournament, which is marking its return for the first time since 2017.

--Agencies