India and Pakistan to play Cricket on neutral grounds

The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement on Thursday since the two national teams have tended to avoid playing in the other country for years. Cricket matches between the two countries are always full of tensions, reflecting bilateral political relations. Politicians are also present in the two national cricket federations.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Cricket matches between India and Pakistan will be played in neutral venues, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

This will apply to two major ICC events next year: the men's Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the women's ODI[*] World Cup in India.

It will also be in place for the men's T20 World Cup in 2026, which India will co-host alongside Sri Lanka, and the women's T20 World Cup in 2028 in Pakistan.

"The match schedule for the men's Champions Trophy 2025 will be confirmed in the coming days," the ICC said in a statement.

Due to estranged relations, India and Pakistan have only faced each other at multi-team events since 2008.

Last year, Pakistan visited India for the 50-overs World Cup but the Indian cricket board (BCCI) decided not to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year, on government advice.

Also last year, Pakistan hosted the Asian Cup, but India, the winner of the event, played all their matches in Sri Lanka.

The matches between India and Pakistan are always politically charged and the most anticipated of any in ICC tournaments, especially after the suspension of mutual visits.

Politics also plays a role. The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, is Pakistan’s Interior Minister, while Jay Shah, who was BCCI secretary until he took over the ICC presidency earlier this month, is the son of India’s Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah.

[*] One Day International is a format played between two teams with international status, in which each team faces a fixed number of 50 overs, with the game lasting up to seven hours.

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