The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the neutral venue to host all of India’s matches during the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy-2025. This officially ends the standoff between PCB and BCCI.
India had earlier informed ICC that the Rohit Sharma-led side would not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team, ODI tournament, citing security concerns.
The act left PCB disappointed as they, at one stage, threatened to pull out of the tournament. However, BCCI received strong backing from the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the Islamabad unrest earlier this month.
Earlier, ICC had confirmed that Champions Trophy 2025 will be played under the hybrid model, with India set to play all their matches at a neutral venue, including if the team reaches the semifinals and final.
“UAE was finalized as the venue after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the Emirates Cricket Board Chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan,” PCB spokesman Amir Mir said in a statement. Mir said the PCB has “informed the ICC” about the selection.
Now…….Is Dubai set to host India’s matches? Here, it is to share that the PCB’s statement, however, did not confirm where the games would take place in the UAE, with Dubai considered the likeliest venue.
According to a report, India will play against Pakistan on February 23, a Sunday. The other teams in India’s group are Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will take on Bangladesh in their opener on February 20 and face the Kiwis on March 2. The defending champions, Pakistan, on the other hand, will kick off their campaign against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. Their second league game will be staged in Rawalpindi on February 27, 2025.
The second group will comprise Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa. All matches, barring that of India, will be played across three cities – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
India had earlier informed ICC that Indian Players would not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team, ODI tournament, citing security concerns. The act left PCB disappointed as they, at one stage, threatened to pull out of the tournament. However, BCCI received strong backing from the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the Islamabad unrest earlier this month.
In fact, India’s policy continues without compromise. First and foremost, it does not wish to convey a dichotomous policy of fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and allowing a business-as-usual approach elsewhere. That would allow Pakistan to legitimize its proxy support to terrorism in J&K.
One thing more very serious is that once Pakistani fans pelted stones on Indian Cricket Team in Karachi Stadium despite full security. Have ever such things happened to Pak team in India?
As per a compilation, many cricketers have also, otherwise, suffered ghastly injuries, as hinted below:
Phil Hughes (Australia): Struck on the neck by a bouncer during a domestic match in 2014. Passed away two days later. His death brought about change in protective equipment so that something similar will not happen again.
Raman Lamba (India): Hit on the head while fielding close without a helmet during a domestic match in Bangladesh in 1998. Suffered a fatal brain injury and died a few days later.
Mark Boucher (South Africa) : Suffered a severe eye injury in 2012 after a bail hit him in the eye during a warm-up match in England. Required emergency surgery and announced retirement from all forms of cricket shortly after.
Saba Karim (India) : Suffered a severe eye injury in May 2000 while keeping for India against when he was injured on his right eye while keeping to Anil Kumble during the Asia Cup at Dhaka. He had to undergo surgery and the injury ended his playing caree
Nari Contractor (India) : Struck on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith during a match against Barbados in 1962. Suffered a life-threatening skull fracture but survived after surgery. Never played international cricket again.
David Lawrence (England) : Suffered a horrific knee injury while delivering a ball during a Test match against New Zealand in 1992. Required extensive surgery and rehabilitation. Forced to retire at just 29 years old due to recurring knee issues.
Craig Kieswetter (England) : Hit on the face by a bouncer while batting in 2014, causing severe eye and facial injuries. Struggled with vision problems and retired from professional cricket in 2015. The injury cut short a promising international career.
Will Pucovski (Australia): Multiple concussions during his career, including blows to the head in domestic matches. Persistent issues with concussion symptoms have limited his ability to play at the highest level.
Meyrick Pringle (South Africa): Suffered a severe eye injury in 1992 when a bouncer from Javagal Srinath hit him and he never played international cricket again
Simon Jones (England): During 2002-03 Ashes in Australia on the opening day of the series at Brisbane he slid to prevent a boundary and ruptured a cruciate ligament in his right knee. Though he did make a comeback this and other injuries cut short what could have been a promising career.
Stuart Broad (England): In 2014 India’s tour of England a bouncer from Varun Aaron hit him in his face and broke his nose. Though unlike others in the list he continued to play for a long time after this incident his batting was never the same as he was almost a genuine all-rounder until then.
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Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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