The dream of India-Pakistan final is broken, the match will not be held in Narendra Modi Stadium!

The final of a World Cup between India and Pakistan can be the biggest match in cricket. It would have been even more special if this match was held in the world's largest stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Last year, in the ODI World Cup, both the teams had faced each other on this ground, and people can never forget the atmosphere that was created at that time. But now the India-Pakistan final being held at Narendra Modi Stadium, it will probably remain just a dream. The reason behind this is a new announcement by ICC, which has made it almost impossible for the next some time.

Agree on hybrid model

The tension between India and Pakistan has also affected cricket, and recently its impact was visible on the Champions Trophy 2025. After a dispute on this matter between the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for several weeks, now its solution has been found. The Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in February-March next year will be held on hybrid model, as demanded by the Indian Board.

This means that the Indian team will not go to Pakistan and will play its matches at a neutral venue. On December 19, ICC made its formal announcement and pacified the controversy. Along with this it was also decided that now the Pakistani team will not come to India. After BCCI's refusal, PCB had also put a condition that it would not send its team for ICC tournaments in India. Now a hybrid model has been agreed upon, in which the matches of both the countries will be held at neutral venues.

India-Pakistan final: what will happen?

This arrangement will be applicable from Champions Trophy 2025 and will run till 2028, in which Pakistan has to co-host the Women's T20 World Cup with India in 2028. During this time, T20 World Cup will be organized in India in 2026. Now according to this agreement, Pakistan will play its match at some other venue. Sri Lanka is hosting this tournament along with India, so it will not be a big deal for the Pakistani team to play its matches in Sri Lanka. It is possible that India and Pakistan will be in the same group, and for this, Team India will not have any problem in going to Sri Lanka.

question of knockout matches

The biggest question is what will happen to the knockout matches like semi-finals and finals. The ICC did not make it clear in its announcement whether the matches between India and Pakistan will be played at neutral venues only in the group stage, or the same rule will apply in the knockout matches also. If there is a semi-final or final between India and Pakistan, then the question has now arisen whether this historic match will take place in the Narendra Modi Stadium or not.

What will happen next?

In the Champions Trophy 2025, it is certain that apart from India's matches, the remaining knockout and final matches will be played at neutral venues. If India does not reach the final, it is possible that the final will be played in Pakistan. Now the question is whether the same system will be implemented in the 2026 T20 World Cup also? It will be important to see in the next one and a half years whether there is any change in this agreement or whether the formula like Champions Trophy is applied to the T20 World Cup as well.