The drama surrounding the Pakistan-India clash in the upcoming Champions Trophy seemed never-ending. While the host nation Pakistan agreed to organize the tournament under a hybrid model, complications arose over selecting a co-host country. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially favored the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Colombo. However, despite days of speculation, PCB did not finalize a name for the hybrid model’s co-host.
Finally, on Sunday night, the organizers confirmed that India’s matches will not take place in Colombo but in Dubai, UAE. The decision came after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met UAE Cricket Board Chairman Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan.
In an official statement on Sunday night, PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir said, “After a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and UAE Cricket Board Chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE has been finalized as the venue.”
The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, will kick off on February 19 next year. According to the tentative schedule, the opening match will take place in Karachi, where hosts Pakistan will face New Zealand. The next day, India will play their first match against Bangladesh in Dubai.
The highly-anticipated Pakistan-India match is scheduled for February 23 at the same venue. The second group includes Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa, with their matches expected to take place in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. However, the ICC has not yet released the final schedule due to delays caused by the hybrid model negotiations.
