India can play Champions Trophy in UAE: ICC is planning, Pakistan will host the tournament; Team India did not even go to Asia Cup

The 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan during February-March.

India's matches in the Champions Trophy-2025 can be held in UAE. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah can host these matches.

A media report has claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) can conduct this tournament, which is going to be held between February and March next year, on a 'hybrid model'. A source in the ICC Executive Board told PIT – 'Holding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year on a 'hybrid model' could be an option, because the ICC cannot take a decision on India's participation if the government policy is against it. A meeting of board members is going on in Dubai.

Earlier, last year the Asia Cup was also held on 'hybrid model'. Then India's matches were held in Sri Lanka, while the tournament was hosted by Pakistan. The Indian team became champion by defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Colombo. Read full news of the final

in graphics ICC events in the coming years

An ICC tournament will be played in Pakistan after a long wait of almost 29 years. The last time some matches of the 1996 ODI World Cup were played in Pakistan.

Naqvi will try to get assurance from Shah
Talks on the Champions Trophy are not on the agenda of the meeting, but newly elected PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that he will try to get assurances by talking to BCCI secretary Jay Shah and top ICC officials on the sidelines of the meeting.

An ICC board member said that the Indian board will take a decision only when the date of the tournament comes closer, but the possibility of organizing it in UAE cannot be ruled out. The source also said that this is not a subcontinental tournament like the Asia Cup, but a global tournament. Therefore, the Indian government can adopt a soft stance.

Indian Board President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla had gone to Pakistan during the Asia Cup, however, the case is different with the cricket team which has superstars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah.

ICC board cannot ask to go against government policy
Quoting a senior administrator, the agency wrote that every member can raise his issue in the board meeting. Voting is done on this, but if the government of the member country says that they cannot play there then ICC has to find alternatives. The ICC Board's stance is clear that it does not expect its members to go against the policy or instructions of their government.

Asked whether there would be a vote against India's refusal to play in Pakistan, the source said this situation would not arise if there were government instructions.

The last title of Champions Trophy was won by Pakistan. The team had defeated India by a huge margin of 180 runs in London.

Team India is in more danger there
On the question of going to Pakistan, the former BCCI official said that we should not forget that the Indian cricket team is more likely to be in danger than Australia, New Zealand or England.

Indian team went to Pakistan to play Davis Cup
The Indian tennis team visited Islamabad in January–February to play Davis Cup World Group playoff matches. Then the players along with the support staff were happy with the security arrangements.