Pakistan is preparing to host the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup and wants to stage most of the tournament on home soil. However, matches involving India are expected to be played at a neutral venue.
The ICC has confirmed that the 12-team tournament will be held from September 7 to October 1, 2028. Pakistan will be the main host. The venue for India’s matches has not been officially announced yet. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently emerging as the likely option.
Pakistan seeks hybrid model for 2028 World Cup
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source said the country is ready to host the tournament. However, Pakistan wants a similar hybrid model to the one used during the 2025 Champions Trophy.
“We would like to host matches of both groups and the knockout matches where the Indian team is not involved,” the source said as quoted by India Today.
“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.
The hybrid arrangement was agreed between India and Pakistan for ICC events. Under the agreement, matches involving the two teams are played at neutral venues when either country hosts an ICC tournament.
The model was used during the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan hosted the tournament, while India played all its matches in Dubai. This included the final, where India defeated New Zealand. Pakistan hosted 10 of the 15 matches.
A similar arrangement was also used during the 2023 Asia Cup. India played its matches in Sri Lanka. During the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India, Pakistan played its matches in Colombo.
India are expected to be strong contenders in the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup. If India fail to reach the knockout stages, Lahore could potentially host the final. However, the ICC has not confirmed the final venue.
Hosting the tournament would also give Pakistan a major opportunity to promote women’s cricket and strengthen its national team.
