Asia

PAKISTAN Cricket: India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues

The news was announced in recent days by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the teams of both countries suspended mutual visits during international tournaments for years. The matches are always full of tension, mainly due to politics, directly present within the two national cricket federations.

New Delhi (/Agencies) – The cricket matches between India and Pakistan will be played at neutral venues, as announced in recent days by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The agreement will apply to two major events next year: the men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the women’s ODI World Cup (one-day international, competitions with 50 overs, playing sessions) in India, but also will remain in force for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted by India along with Sri Lanka, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in Pakistan (T20 means twenty20, the shortest game mode).

“The match schedule for the 2025 men’s Champions Trophy will be confirmed in the coming days,” the ICC later stated in its statement.

Due to troubled relations, India and Pakistan have only faced each other in multi-team events since 2008. Last year, Pakistan had participated in the 50-over World Cup in India, but then the Cricket Federation of India (BCCI) had announced, citing government advice, that it would not send its players to Pakistan for the following year’s Champions Trophy. Last year, Pakistan also hosted the Asian Cup, but India, winners of the tournament, played all the matches in Sri Lanka.

Matches between India and Pakistan are always politically charged and are the most anticipated of any ICC tournament, especially after the suspension of mutual visits. Politics are directly present in the sport: Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi is also home minister, while Jay Shah, who was BCCI secretary until taking over as ICC president earlier this month , is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.



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