Pakistan is seeking to stage as many matches as possible during the 2028 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, including group-stage and knockout fixtures not involving India, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging as a potential neutral venue for the Indian team’s matches, according to a report by PTI.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) already holds the hosting rights for the 12-team tournament, scheduled from September 7 to October 1, 2028. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to finalise the neutral venue arrangements for India, leaving the distribution of matches between Pakistan and any overseas venue unresolved.
The PCB is seeking to retain the maximum possible number of fixtures on home soil under the existing hybrid hosting arrangement between India and Pakistan, which allows matches involving either country to be played at neutral venues when the other hosts an ICC or Asian tournament.
PCB seeks maximum matches on home soil
Pakistan’s hosting plans include staging fixtures from both groups and retaining knockout matches that do not feature India.
A PCB source told PTI: “We would like to host matches from both groups and the knockout matches in which the Indian team is not involved.”
Lahore is also being considered as the venue for the tournament final if India does not reach the title match. That arrangement would depend on the teams progressing through the competition, with the ICC yet to confirm the final venue arrangements.
The PCB’s proposed approach would allow Pakistan to stage a substantial portion of the tournament while accommodating the neutral-venue requirement for India’s fixtures.
UAE emerges as preferred neutral venue
The UAE is being considered as the likely alternative location for India’s matches, with its proximity to Pakistan offering logistical advantages for tournament operations.
The source explained: “The UAE will probably be the neutral venue of choice for everyone because travel between Pakistan and Dubai is short and logistics become less expensive and easier to manage.”
The proposed arrangement would follow the precedent established during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, when Pakistan hosted the competition but India’s matches were staged in the UAE.
Pakistan hosted 10 of the tournament’s 15 fixtures, including a semifinal in Lahore that did not involve India. The Indian team played all its matches in the UAE and subsequently won the final in Dubai.
That tournament demonstrated how matches could be divided between Pakistan and a neutral location under the hybrid arrangement, although the specific arrangements for the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup remain subject to confirmation.
Hosting offers financial and development benefits
Staging the Women’s T20 World Cup will also provide financial benefits for Pakistan through the ICC’s tournament hosting arrangements.
Host countries receive a hosting fee from the global governing body, alongside funding allocated to cover tournament-related expenses. The PCB source identified these financial provisions as part of the benefits associated with hosting the competition.
Beyond the financial arrangements, the tournament is expected to provide an opportunity to raise the profile of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
The PCB source also highlighted the country’s existing women’s cricket talent and the opportunity to develop a competitive national team ahead of the event.
The final allocation of matches will determine how extensively Pakistan can use its hosting rights, with the PCB’s proposal aimed at ensuring that the country stages fixtures throughout the competition rather than being limited to the opening rounds.
