Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan land with egg on face as they request UAE to host matches

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For months, Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board have been lying over the 2025 Champions Trophy, they will host the entire tournament at home.

Now it is confirmed India will not travel to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates is going to be the neutral venue. What is shameful is Pakistan has accepted it does not call the shots and has pleaded that the UAE becomes a host.

Pray, will a host nation ask another country to stage matches unless it's own country is in turmoil? Pakistan is a terror state plagued by all ills. Stadia are incomplete, there is massive corruption.

Incidents of violence and political instability have ensured India will not travel across the border. All the tough posturing by PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi has crumbled. He went to the UAE with a begging bowl. Worse, if India makes the final, then it will be held in the UAE.

The only consolation for Pakistan is it will not come to India for any matches in ICC competitions in the next cycle till 2027. This suits India well, why invite a team which creates problems in logistics and security, plus lead to a bad atmosphere. India can host all countries lavishly, provide good security and an ambience which will resonate.

Final details are not out, but India versus Pakistan will also be in Dubai. The crowds will root for India in February and Pakistan cannot do a thing. Relations between India and the UAE are very strong.

If it is August 15, Independence Day in India, Dubai lights up the iconic Burj Khalifa in India colours. Indians in the UAE have a great bonding with people from other nations. So much so, they outnumber other countries staying in Dubai or UAE.

Pakistan does not realise what damage it has done to its own country. They may have defeated South Africa in an ODI series but their own PCB and the political leadership under Shebaz Sharif has no respect.

If any further incidents of violence take place there, the whole tournament can be moved out of Pakistan is what MyKhel has heard. As regards TV broadcast schedules and more details, it was Pakistan which wanted to play India in Sri Lanka. That was shot down, thanks to the power of India.

Pakistan mocked ICC chairman Jay Shah, the big boss of world cricket. He kept quiet despite the taunts and barbs. End result, Pakistan had to eat humble pie, bow before the UAE cricket board and play in Dubai, and possibly Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

In the long run, the UAE will earn goodwill as it hosts top-class cricket, non-stop. That, again, is due to India and the UAE bonding so well and enjoying a good equation.

Travel, tourism, all are factored. Indeed, when Dubai hosts the India versus Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy 2025, it will be like home for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and the team to play in the desert venue.

Even before Jay Shah vacated the BCCI, he made it clear Rohit and Kohli will be there for the Champions Trophy. They are marquee names and will draw crowds in the UAE, which has fantastic facilities.

Last bit, YouTube and social media from Pakistan trolling India did no good. It is India who have won the Champions Trophy battle by putting their foot down. The UAE is like second home to India and this is a win-win situation. The BCCI has all the power, unlike pauper PCB. That point has been driven home again.