The Champions Trophy 2025 is not far away, as the tournament is expected to begin around February, according to the tentative schedule, although confirmation is still pending. There are many speculations, especially after India announced they would not be traveling to Pakistan to play in this tournament. We are now set to see a hybrid model, which didn’t come easily, as the PCB wanted to impose some conditions before agreeing to it. It seems some of these conditions will be met, but not all, as the chances are high that since India is not traveling to Pakistan, Men in Green will do same in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, where Pakistan will possibly play India in Sri Lanka, which is a co-host.
Will UAE host Champions Trophy 2025?
Now, things are up in the air for the Champions Trophy. Initially, India’s match against Pakistan was scheduled for March 1 in Lahore, but now the venue is set to change due to the hybrid model, which means India’s matches will be held at a different location.
We may see both teams playing at a different ground. The Men in Blue have not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to political tensions between the two countries, although India has hosted Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 and the ODI World Cup 2023. Since India is not going to Pakistan, several venues are being considered, ranging from Sri Lanka to South Africa. However, the UAE is emerging as a strong contender and looks almost confirmed.
But what about the stadium where the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 match could be held? Let’s see the possible grounds in the UAE as well that could host this iconic clash.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE
Currently, it looks like the both board’s favorite and almost confirmed stadium to host the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy clash. For both teams, this ground has been decent, as India has an impressive record at this venue in ODI format, with 5 wins and one draw, showcasing their dominance. India has played against Test-playing nations such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh here and has performed well. For Pakistan, this is their second home ground, where they have played many matches and are comfortable. The surface suits both teams, and there are many chances that the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 clash between the two teams will take place at this very ground.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
At one point, India played the maximum number of matches at the iconic Sharjah venue. We witnessed memorable moments such as the popular Desert Storm innings by Sachin Tendulkar against Australia and Javed Miandad’s famous last ball six vs India. Many unforgettable events have taken place here for both teams. In total, India played 72 matches at this venue, winning 35, showing an impressive record. However, India stopped traveling to this venue due to unavoidable reasons, such as match-fixing issues and high illegal betting rates.
India’s last match at Sharjah was on October 29, 2000, during the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy, where they played against Sri Lanka and lost by 245 runs. Since then, India has not played an official match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Although chances look slim, we could still expect an India vs Pakistan clash if Dubai doesn’t get the chance.
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