ICC Champions Trophy: Indo-Pak deadlock, next 24 hours crucial!

LAHORE: The next 24 hours regarding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are very important with regards to the India Pakistan deadlock on venue, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed that India’s matches be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka as an alternative option to Pakistan. PCB said that if they receive a good offer from Sri Lanka, then the Indian games could be held there.

Reportedly, India has accepted Pakistan’s terms, but the official announcement is yet to be made by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sources are predicting that the official notification will be issued within the next 24 hours.

Champions Trophy 2025: India accepts PCB’s terms

However, for the matches to be transferred to Sri Lanka, the venue rental, gate money, security costs, hotel costs and production costs will need to be accounted for, sources said. Moreover, the chances of holding all of India’s matches in Colombo are low. Dubai is, therefore, seemingly the better option.

Dubai is also the favorite venue for India Pakistan matches in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ICC can finalise the Champions Trophy schedule in the next 24 hours, sources said, adding that reportedly a consensus has been reached between the PCB and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The ICC will take signatures on the agreement between the two boards.

NEUTRAL VENUE FOMULA KICKS IN UNTIL 2027

After India refused to send players to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament, Pakistan announced that PCB will also not send players to India for any ICC games.

Pakistan tables ‘tit-for-tat formula’ for Champions Trophy

As a result of the compromise reached between India and Pakistan, teams from both countries will play against each other only at neutral venues. This arrangement will be applied to all ICC events until 2027, including the upcoming tournament.

Moreover, under the agreed upon formula, sources said, one semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan. If India fails to reach the final of the tournament, then the Champions Trophy 2025 final will be played in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The matches between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in Sri Lanka.