India may play in UAE as Pakistan eyes hosting all 2028 Women's T20 WC matches

Pakistan is keen to host all matches of the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup, with the UAE likely to serve as the neutral venue for India's games under the hybrid model. The ICC has scheduled the 12-team tournament from September 7 to October 1, 2028, while Lahore could host the final if India fail to qualify.India may play the Women's T20 World Cup 2028 matches in the UAE (Courtesy: BCCI Women X)New Delhi,Oct 23, 2026 22:05 ISTPakistan is keen to host all matches of the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as the likely neutral venue for games involving India, according to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source.The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the 12-team tournament will be held from September 7 to October 1, 2028, with Pakistan as the main host. However, the neutral venue for India's matches is yet to be finalised. The ICC has confirmed that neutral venue arrangements will apply to the tournament.An official source in the PCB said Pakistan was ready to host the tournament but would urge the ICC to follow the hybrid model used for the 2025 Champions Trophy."We would like to host matches of both groups and the knockout matches where the Indian team is not involved," he said. "UAE will probably be the neutral venue of choice for everyone because the travel between Pakistan and Dubai is short, and logistics becomes less expensive and easier to handle," he added.HYBRID MODEL CONTINUESThe arrangement follows the hybrid model agreed upon by India and Pakistan for ICC events. Under the agreement, matches involving the two countries at events hosted by either nation are played at neutral venues. The ICC confirmed the arrangement in December 2024, extending it to the 2028 Women's T20 World Cup. The model was implemented at the 2025 Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan, with Dubai designated as the neutral venue. India played all its matches there, including the final against New Zealand, which it won. Pakistan hosted 10 of the tournament's 15 matches.The same approach has shaped other major tournaments. During the 2023 Asia Cup, hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India played its matches in Sri Lanka. At the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup in India, Pakistan played its matches in Colombo, including its group-stage meeting with India.India are among the leading teams in women's cricket and would be expected to challenge for the knockout stages in 2028. The PCB source said Lahore could host the final if India fail to qualify, although the ICC has yet to confirm the venue arrangements.The source added that hosting the tournament would boost women's cricket in Pakistan, which is keen to build a competitive team for the global event.The 2028 Women's T20 World Cup will be another major test of the hybrid model as the two cricketing rivals continue to meet at neutral venues in multinational competitions.- Ends