Table of Contents
As we thought we would never get to see the Champions Trophy (CT) tournament again after 2017, the ICC (International Cricket Council) brings it back in 2022. At first, the ICC decided to not hold the Champions Trophy again after 2017, but now we will again get to see the 8-nation tournament again in 2025, with the hosting rights with Pakistan.
The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has proposed three venues for the coming Champions Trophy 2025 to the ICC. Today, we will give you all the developments regarding this and see if India can go to Pakistan for the tournament or not. So let’s start.
Pakistan Cricket Board has the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025
The Champions Trophy was last held in 2017 in England and Wales. Pakistan won that tournament by beating the arch-rivals, India in the final by 180 runs. After that, the ICC decided to have only one major tournament in each format and canceled the future editions of CT. But in 2021, they decided to bring the tournament in 2025. The hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025 lies with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). It’s the first time that Pakistan has hosted an ICC tournament since 1996. In 1996, they co-hosted the ODI WC along with India and Sri Lanka.
PCB proposed three venues for the tournament
The PCB has proposed three venues for the Champions Trophy 2025. Those venues are Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. They sent the initial draft to ICC recently. The tournament is set to be held in the mid-February window.
The eight-team tournament will happen for over two weeks. Although the exact dates are still not known.
What did the PCB chairman say?
The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi talked about the scheduling in a press conference in Lahore. He said the PCB has sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC’s security team came and had a good meeting with the PCB. Naqvi also said the ICC looked at all the arrangements in Pakistan and the PCB also shared stadium upgrade plans with ICC. The PCB is in touch with the ICC regularly and hoping to host a very good tournament in Pakistan.
Will Team India travel to Pakistan?
The scheduling will depend on Team India’s presence in the tournament. As we all know, the Indian government hasn’t allowed the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to send their team to Pakistan. According to ESPNcricinfo, the initial draft that PCB sent has all the games being played in Pakistan, including India’s games as well.
Before the schedule is finalized, it usually goes through several iterations completed by different teams inside the ICC after the host board submits the draft schedule. The ICC then distributes the schedule to the broadcaster and the other boards. The global body’s annual conference in July will be the next official gathering of the ICC.
The political atmosphere between the two nations and the Indian government’s decision to allow the BCCI to send its squad to Pakistan will ultimately determine the outcome of India’s games.
Team India last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Pakistan recently came to India for the ICC World Cup 2023.
A hybrid model again comes into play
Last year, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in a hybrid model in which a few games happened in Pakistan and the rest of the tournament happened in Sri Lanka, including all of India’s games and the final. For CT 2025 well, we might see a hybrid model where India plays all the games outside of Pakistan.
Because of regular security concerns, terrorist attacks, etc, the teams are reluctant to travel to Pakistan.
Pakistan will host a few bilateral series’ before the Champions Trophy 2025
Before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will also host England and Bangladesh for a bilateral series. They will also play a Tri-Series along with South Africa and New Zealand before the ICC tournament.
A challenge to host PSL during that window
PCB will also face the big challenge of organizing the next edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next year. The CT 2025 window will clash with PSL and if they postpone the PSL, it will also clash with other fixtures and franchise leagues around the world.
Naqvi on the upgradation of the stadiums
PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi also acknowledged the fact that the proposed venues stadiums need upgradation. Naqvi said Gaddafi Stadium is good, but the viewing experience is poor for cricket. He also said Karachi is in bad shape too.
Naqvi said they will finalize bids from international companies on May 7th, who will help them in design. They will also work with local consultants and need to do this in the next four or five months. The PCB chairmen is confident that they will do that in time.
↻ Champions Trophy 2025 Posing Threat To T20 Leagues Around The World
Conclusion
So a tough task ahead for PCB. Let’s see how things panned out. What do you think? Will Pakistan host the whole tournament? Or will they need something else? Comment your opinion below.
Thank you for reading. Keep following us for the latest updates.
FAQs:-
(1) How many Champions Trophy Pakistan has won till now?
The last edition’s win was their first-ever CT title in 2017.
(2) What is a head-to-head of India vs Pakistan in the Champions Trophy?
In the Champions Trophy, both teams have played 5 games against each other. Team India won 2 games while Pakistan won 3 games out of those 5.
(3) What’s the next fixture of India vs Pakistan in cricket?
India will play Pakistan on June 09 in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in New York.
