India’s matches at the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in Dubai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Tuesday.
Pakistan, the tournament hosts, selected the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue for India’s fixtures with the team not able to play matches in Pakistan due to political tensions.
The hosts’ Group A game against India will now be played in Dubai, along with India’s games against Bangladesh and New Zealand. The decision also means that the venue for the final on 9 March will change from Lahore to Dubai if India qualify.
Last month, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), citing government advice, told the ICC they would not send a team to the tournament, which begins in February. India have not toured Pakistan since 2008, while Pakistan last visited their neighbours to take part in the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
“The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai,” an ICC statement said. “Lahore will host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals [the second of which will be in Lahore] and the final will have reserve days.
This will be the first Champions Trophy event since 2017, which was won by Pakistan after they beat India by 180 runs in the final at the Oval in London. The eight-team, 50-over format competition begins in Karachi on 19 February, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand. Rawalpindi will also host three group-stage matches.
England are in Group B with Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa in an early test for Brendon McCullum as he takes over white-ball coaching duties. England will face Australia on 22 February and Afghanistan on 26 February – both in Lahore – and then take on the Proteas on 1 March in Karachi.
The tournament will be the first ICC event to be held in Pakistan since the 1996 50-over World Cup, which was co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.
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The ICC said last week that matches between India and Pakistan in tournaments from 2024 to 2027, organised in either nation, would be played at neutral venues.
