After Group Stage Exit, Pakistan At Risk Of Losing Right To Host CT Final, Hope For Big Favour From Australia

Pakistan will have keen eyes on the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final between India and Australia as the 2023 World Cup finalists go head-to-head in a blockbuster clash on Tuesday (March 4) at the Dubai International Stadium.

The mega event is the first ICC tournament that Pakistan is hosting, but the country might not get the chance to host the final, scheduled to take place on Sunday (March 9). While Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is a designated venue for the marquee clash, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will hope for a favor from Australia.

For those unfamiliar, India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for security reasons led to the tournament's conversion to a hybrid model. While three venues in Pakistan are hosting the tournament, the Men in Blue are playing all their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final.

The schedule for the tournament has two venues listed for the final; if the Rohit Sharma-led side qualifies for the title clash, the match will take place in Dubai. Hence, Pakistan hopes that Australia defeats India to ensure they crown the new champions on their soil.

India is so far unbeaten in the tournament after becoming the only team to win all three league stage matches following victories against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Black Caps will face South Africa in the second semi-final on Wednesday (March 5) in Lahore.

In an unprecedented situation, the tickets for the final are yet to go on sale despite less than a week remaining for the big clash. The process will only begin after the end of the India-Australia semi-final, which will confirm the venue of the summit encounter.

The tournament has not brought Pakistan fond memories, as three of the nine group matches they were supposed to host were washed out. Meanwhile, their team finished winless and bottom of Group A with just one point in three games. After playing India in Dubai and not a single ball being bowled during the rained-out encounter with Bangladesh at Rawalpindi, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side only played one completed match on home soil, which was the tournament opener against New Zealand at Karachi, which they lost by 60 runs.

The 1996 Cricket World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia at Lahore is the only ICC event that Pakistan has hosted to date.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Cricket, Sports and around the world.