• India’s matches to be held at neutral venue, Pakistan to have similar arrangement for tournaments being held in India
• ICC says tournament schedule to be announced soon

LAHORE: Following weeks of wrangling, the deadlock over the hosting of next year’s Champions Tro­phy finally ended on Thurs­day when the ICC announced that India will play their matches of t he 50-over event at a neutral venue instead of Pakistan, who will get a similar arrangement for tournaments to be held in India till 2027.

The arrangement will apply to two major ICC events next year — the men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the women’s ODI World Cup in India. It will also be in place for the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, which India will co-host alongside Sri Lanka, and the women’s T20 World Cup in 2028 in Pakistan.

All of India’s Champions Trophy games will be at a neutral venue, including if they reach the semi-finals and final. Although no formal announcement has been made, but India’s matches are likely be held in the UAE.

The announcement ended a month-long standoff after India told the ICC it would not send its team to Pakistan because of security fears and political tensions.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier refused to play the Champions trophy on a ‘hybrid model’, but backed down after settling on a ‘fusion model’ proposing neutral venues for both sides in ICC tournaments.

“India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC board confirmed,” the ICC said in a statement. “This will apply to the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 [hosted by Pakistan].”

The agreement will extend to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 hosted by India, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the statement added.

“The match schedule for the men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be confirmed in the coming days.”

The decision was expected after prolonged talks between the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India to find an amicable solution that was to be approved by the ICC.

The agreement means that for the first time, the Indian team will have to move out from its own country to play Pakistan in an ICC event despite being the host or co-host.

“Pakistan’s principled stance has been widely appreciated, and we will leave no stone unturned in preserving the prestige of this event,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had told the PCB’s Board of Governors during its meeting on Wednesday.

“All participating teams will receive a warm welcome. From day one, our focus has been on ensuring success for Pakistan and cricket. The PCB is fully prepared for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy, and all preparations are well on track.”

He further assured that the renovation and upgradation of stadiums would be completed well ahead of the tournament. “Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the stadiums meet international standards,” he said.

The Champions Trophy will also feature Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Political tensions between Pakistan and India have prevented their teams from touring each other’s country since 2012, when Pakistan went to India for a bilateral One-day International series.

India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 but the rivals face each other regularly in ICC tournaments — Pakistan went to India last year for the men’s World Cup. But before the World Cup, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and played all of their games in Sri Lanka.

The politically-charged India-Pakistan contest is the most anticipated match in any ICC tournament, especially after the suspension of bilateral tours between the bitter cricket-mad neighbours.

AFP ADDS: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram described the decision as “the best solution” but a loss for his country’s young cricket fans.

“Like millions of Pakistan fans I would have wanted the whole tournament to be played in Pakistan, and India touring our country,” Wasim told AFP. “But if this is the solution then it’s the best one. It’s not a win for any country but I am saddened that this is a loss for millions of Gen Z Pakistani fans who wanted to see [Virat] Kohli, Rohit [Sharma], [Rishabh] Pant, [Jasprit] Bumrah playing in their country

Former pacer Mohammad Amir said he wanted to host Kohli at his house in Lahore.

“It is disappointing that India will not be playing in Pakistan,” Amir told AFP on the phone from Sri Lanka. “I would have loved to host Kohli at my home but it’s not to be.”

Amir, who retired from international cricket last week, said Indian players would have been overwhelmed by the welcome in Pakistan.

“Had they come to Pakistan they would have realised how much fan following they have here,” said Amir. “We went to India for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2016 and were welcomed with open hearts by the fans.”

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024