Champions Trophy: India to face Pakistan in Dubai on February 23

Dubai: India will play hosts Pakistan in the Champions Trophy tie in Dubai on February 23.

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The International Cricket Council announced the full schedule for the February 19-March 10 eight-team event on Tuesday.

India are in Group A along with New Zealand and Bangladesh, while South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and England are in Group B.

The tournament begins on February 19 in Karachi with Pakistan taking on New Zeland in Karachi. Lahore and Rawalpindi are the other two venues apart from Dubai the tournament will travel to.

While the Gaddafi Stadium will host one semi-final, Dubai has been earmarked to host the other semi-final with both venues scheduled to host the final. Should India qualify for the final, then the showdown will happen in Dubai, otherwise it will happen in Lahore.

“The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai,” announced the ICC. “Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai.”

Hosts nation Pakistan on Sunday chose Dubai as a neutral venue for next year’s Champions Trophy after India refused to travel for the tournament, citing government restrictions.

After a month-long standoff and several deliberations involving the International Cricket Council Board, which included Pakistan and Indian board members and the representatives of other member nations, the ICC on Thursday said that all matches involving India would be held outside of Pakistan, a hybrid format that will be followed to other ICC events hosted by India until the end of the 2027 cycle.

Month-long standoff

As part of the same agreement, Pakistan will play at a neutral venue in any event hosted by India until 2027, a compromise reached after a month-long stand-off between the two arch-rivals.

“Pakistan has chosen Dubai as the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy and it has been conveyed to the ICC officially, meaning India will play its matches there,” said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman on Sunday.

Pakistan and India now only play each other in multinational events such as the World Cup and Asia Cup.