The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is actively pursuing the hosting rights for the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, a tournament scheduled to span from September 7 to October 1. As the designated main host for the international event, Pakistan intends to hold a significant portion of the matches, including both group and knockout fixtures, on its own soil. However, the proposal involves a specific arrangement to address the participation of the Indian team, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging as the likely neutral venue for those games.
According to a report citing PCB sources, the board is pushing for a hybrid model that aligns with the protocols established during the 2025 Champions Trophy. Under this framework, matches involving India would be held in the UAE, while Pakistan would stage the remainder of the 12-team tournament. The PCB source noted that the proximity between Pakistan and Dubai makes the UAE a practical choice, offering a solution that is both logistically efficient and cost-effective for the participating teams.
The hybrid arrangement would allow Pakistan to host 10 of the matches in scenarios similar to previous events, potentially including a semifinal in Lahore if India does not qualify for that stage. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, a comparable structure was utilized where India played its matches in the UAE, while Pakistan held the majority of the tournament's 15 matches, including a semifinal in Lahore. The final of that event was subsequently held in Dubai.
From the perspective of the PCB, securing the hosting rights for the 2028 tournament is viewed as a significant opportunity to provide a substantial boost to the profile and development of women’s cricket within the country. Furthermore, hosting the event would bring economic advantages to the board, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) provides a standard hosting fee alongside additional funds to cover necessary tournament-related expenses.
While the ICC has officially announced the tournament's schedule and the primary host, the final decision regarding the specific neutral venue arrangements for India’s matches remains pending. The sport's governing body is expected to deliberate on the logistical requirements as it finalizes the tournament infrastructure. The tournament, featuring 12 participating teams, is anticipated to draw considerable interest as part of the broader international cricket calendar.
In the broader context of the global cricket schedule, the women's tournament will take place ahead of the men’s 20-team T20 World Cup, which is slated for later that year in Australia and New Zealand, running from October 12 to November 12. As the PCB continues its coordination with the ICC, the primary focus remains on balancing the hosting responsibilities with the travel and safety considerations that have necessitated hybrid models in recent major cricket events.
The uncertainty surrounding the final venue for India's matches reflects the ongoing complexities of international cricket diplomacy. Nonetheless, the PCB maintains that hosting the tournament on home ground, supplemented by the UAE as a neutral hub, represents a viable path forward for the 2028 event. Both the board and the ICC are currently expected to resolve these logistical details in the coming months as preparations for the 12-team tournament progress.
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