Related Articles
The fate of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy remains uncertain as hosting rights become a point of contention between Pakistan and India. Although Pakistan is the official host for the tournament, the BCCI has raised objections over security and diplomatic concerns, proposing a hybrid model where India’s matches could be played at a neutral venue. However, Pakistan has stood firm in rejecting this model and urged the ICC to make a final decision. Amid this standoff, England has thrown its support behind Pakistan, endorsing their preparations as host.
In a recent meeting between PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and ECB head Richard Thompson, England’s cricket board voiced confidence in Pakistan’s planning and readiness for the tournament. Richard Thompson praised Pakistan’s commitment to organizing the event smoothly, with Naqvi assuring him that all international teams would receive state guest protocols for the tournament.
BCCI’s Concerns and PCB’s Champions Trophy Tour Plans
The tension between the two cricket boards escalated when Pakistan announced plans for a Champions Trophy trophy tour in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) region. This move prompted a swift reaction from the BCCI, with Jay Shah, BCCI Secretary, lodging a formal complaint to the ICC. Viewing the tour as a politically charged decision, the ICC intervened and advised Pakistan to adjust the tour plans. As a result, POK was dropped from the tour itinerary.
PCB later confirmed that the Champions Trophy tour would begin on November 16 in Islamabad, featuring stops at scenic locations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad. “Get ready, Pakistan! The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off on 16 November… Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017,” the PCB stated.
With the Champions Trophy only a few months away, the final decision regarding the host venue remains pending as tensions simmer between two of cricket’s biggest boards.
