Will Dubai play the neutral venue for India-Pakistan matches for three years?

The deadlock over ICC Champions Trophy finally seems to be over with Pakistan softening their stance on Saturday to discuss the hybrid model – and it’s a matter of time before the fixtures are finally released. There could, however, be some brownie points in store for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which has pushed for a partnership proposal whereby all India-Pakistan matches on ICC calendar will have to be played in Dubai for next three years.

 While Dubai is now certain to host India’s three group matches of the Champions Trophy including the big game, along with the semi-final and final if India feature in it, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has countered that it cannot be a one-way street where India will not play in Pakistan but the latter will keep touring them. They have put forward a ‘partnership formula,’ whereby the marquee clash for next three years would be played at a fixed neutral venue (read: Dubai).  

‘’There is no hybrid formula – if any new formula is created it will not be for the Champions Trophy but will also apply for the future. First and foremost, Pakistan’s respect is important other matters will follow,’’ Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, told the media. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), which had acted as a troubleshooter both for ICC and BCCI in recent years, has emerged as a key player in such a fluid scenario.  

The India-Pakistan matches in question are of Champions Trophy in February-March next year, Women’s T20 World Cup (2025) and Men’s T20 World Cup (2026) – the last two being co-hosted by India. The plan has emerged after hectic back-channel negotiations over last 48 hours and looks like a viable solution which can satisfy the egos on both sides – but needs a buy-in from the BCCI as well as the external ministries of both countries.  

 After all the brinkmanship that the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) had been showing over the past month which included boycott threats, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel if the proposal is locked in.

 Let’s look at the chronology of events: it was back in 2021 that the ICC awarded the Champions Trophy to Pakistan when they rolled out the next cycle – the first major multi-nation event ever since the Pakistan leg of 2011 World Cup had to be shifted from there after the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team. It was almost for a decade that Pakistan were in isolation when the UAE acted as the ‘home’ for Pakistan while PCB also staged the first few editions of Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi before phasing it out.

The perception began changing over the past five years or so as most international teams began touring Pakistan again – barring India – not to speak of the PSL acting as a melting pot of international cricketers. However, there was no indication of any change on part of BCCI’s stance (read: Indian government) of not sending teams to Pakistan and it was a given that the Men in Blue were unlikely to cross the borders.

There was enough buzz inside the ICC itself that the much talked about hybrid model could be the way forward to hosting a successful Champions Trophy almost a year back. Hence, if PCB were living in denial and thought India would reciprocate their visit for the 2023 ICC World Cup, they were mistaken.

Let’s face it, it’s any country’s prerogative to decide against travelling as per their government’s directive on 'safety concerns.' However, in a fair world, all the governing body needed to do was to hold the event without India and replace them with Sri Lanka – the ninth team in the ICC ODI rankings when the cut-offs were applied.

India the Pied Pipers

However, as the dynamics of the sport goes, it’s plain crazy to think about hosting a mini-World Cup (that’s what the Champions Trophy used to be called before) without India – the Pied Pipers of the sport.

This is the greatest anomaly afflicting cricket in recent times – and the divide between India and the other major cricket playing nations is increasing by the day. It was vain of Pakistan to stick to their ground and initially talk about boycotting the tournament – possibly thinking such a move can pressurise the ICC and the broadcasters as the India-Pakistan game had been their biggest money-spinner in recent times.

 The next couple of days will hence be extremely crucial for the fate of the Champions Trophy!