India will play their matches at next year’s Champions Trophy at a neutral venue, the International Cricket Council has announced.
The eight-team tournament in February and March is being held in Pakistan, who said earlier this month that India had told the ICC the team would not travel to the country to play in the event.
Political tensions mean the two countries have not faced each other outside of men’s major tournaments since 2013, while India have not played in Pakistan since 2008.
The 50-over Champions Trophy will be the first time Pakistan has hosted a global event since 1996.
An ICC statement said “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC events during the 2024-27 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue”.
This includes the upcoming men’s Champions Trophy as well as next year’s women’s World Cup in India and the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan will also host the women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, when neutral venue arrangements will also apply.
The countries taking part in the Champions Trophy in addition to hosts Pakistan are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
The ICC said the schedule for the tournament would be confirmed soon.
(BBC Sport)
