Pakistan vs India

India and Pakistan won’t play at rivals’ venues, including Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a groundbreaking decision: matches between archrivals India and Pakistan in ICC events from the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played on neutral ground. This development, announced by the ICC Board in a statement on Thursday, addresses security concerns and ongoing political tension between the nations.

The agreement covers the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, along with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan vs India

The Pakistan team, last seen touring India during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, will play their matches in other countries for upcoming events hosted by India, maintaining the balance established by this new hybrid model. A similar setup was used in the Asia Cup, where India played all their matches in Sri Lanka due to government restrictions on traveling to Pakistan.

This approach ensures continuity for multi-team tournaments while mitigating risks associated with bilateral engagements, which have been sparse since their last series in December 2012 and January 2013.

Pakistan vs India

The rivalry’s historical significance is underscored by Pakistan’s dominant victory over India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final in London, where they won by a staggering 180 runs. As the 1996 World Cup co-hosts, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka set a precedent for collaboration despite challenges.

With a new match schedule expected in the coming days, this decision symbolizes a shift in managing cricket’s most intense rivalry, blending practicality with diplomacy in high-stakes multi-team events.

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