ICC makes major announcement about Champions Trophy

By our correspondent
LAHORE: After a huge uncertainty International Cricket Council (ICC) eventually made it clear that the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be hosted by Pakistan with India to play its matches on neutral soil.
The ICC also made it clear that during the period 2025-2027 the ICC events which will be hosted by Pakistan and India will be played on hybrid model.
“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 on Thursday, 19 December,” ICC said.
“This will apply to the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (hosted by Pakistan), set to be played in February and March 2025, as well as 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).”
It was also announced that the PCB has been awarded hosting rights of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also apply.
Cricket Australia is set to host one of the senior ICC women’s events during the period 2029 to 2031.
The ICC said that the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be confirmed soon, with Pakistan aiming to defend the title they won in 2017.
The eight-team event will feature Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, alongside hosts Pakistan.