Champions Trophy final to move out of Pakistan if India qualifies: report

Next year's Champions Trophy final, scheduled in Lahore, could be shifted to Dubai if India qualifies, according to a Telegraph report.

Due to India's longstanding government ban on playing in Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) may face pressure to find an alternative venue for the final match.

The tournament, set for February 19 to March 9, is planned to take place in Pakistan, with venues for all 15 games already confirmed.

However, with no indication that the Indian government will lift its ban on traveling to Pakistan, the ICC is quietly considering contingency plans.

“There is a strong possibility that the ICC will ultimately find a different venue for India’s matches – including, if they advance that far, the final itself,” the report said.

The final has been allocated to Lahore on March 9, but discussions about shifting the match, should India make it, have begun.

Dubai has emerged as the most likely option, with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah as other potential hosts if needed.

In an unprecedented move, the final’s venue might not be decided until March 6, just three days before the game.

The uncertainty would mean teams, match officials, and fans would not know the final location until after the semi-finals.

The ICC faced a similar scenario last year during the Asia Cup, where all of India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka despite the event being co-hosted by Pakistan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained that any decision to tour Pakistan will be determined by the Indian government.

If a hybrid model is adopted for the Champions Trophy, India’s games could be shifted to the UAE, while the rest of the tournament proceeds as planned in Pakistan.

All of India’s group stage matches, including their fixture against Pakistan, are currently scheduled for Lahore, just two hours from the India-Pakistan border.

This week, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi reiterated his hope that India would play in Pakistan.

“The Indian team should come. We are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Naqvi said.

This tournament marks Pakistan's first global ICC event since 1996 and is significant for the country. Pakistan enters the competition as defending champions, having beaten India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.