ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Trophy Tour Begins in Pakistan without Muzaffarabad
In Short
- The ICC Champions Trophy trophy tour starts in Islamabad on Saturday, with Shoaib Akhtar visiting famous places.
- The tour was changed after India objected to visiting cities in Muzaffarabad.
- The trophy will travel to countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, and India, then return to Pakistan in January 2025.
- India refuses to play in Pakistan, which might lead to the tournament being held in different countries.
The ICC Champions Trophy trophy tour is set to begin in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. It will visit several famous landmarks, including Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument. Shoaib Akhtar, the renowned former Pakistani cricketer, will join the tour on its first day. Originally, the tour was planned to include cities like Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad, located in the disputed region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but strong objections from India led to changes in the itinerary.
After India’s objection, the ICC revised the route, removing cities in PoK from the schedule. The revised tour will now include popular Pakistani cities such as Taxila, Khanpur, Abbottabad, Murree, Nathia Gali, and Karachi. The revised tour was finalized on Friday, allowing it to start as planned on Saturday. Following the Pakistan leg, the trophy will travel to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England, and India, before returning to Pakistan on January 27, 2025.
The controversy over the inclusion of PoK cities caused delays in finalizing the tour route. The PCB had initially announced the tour dates and locations without consulting the ICC, which led to some confusion. The ICC, however, worked quickly to revise the plan and ensure the tour proceeded as scheduled. Despite the changes, the event is meant to engage fans globally, giving them a chance to see the trophy up close through various digital and physical engagements.
The ICC’s decision to drop the PoK cities from the tour highlights ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over the region. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raised concerns that the inclusion of these cities violated India’s stance on the disputed territory. As a result, the ICC acted swiftly to avoid further complications, ensuring the tour could proceed without further delay.
In the lead-up to the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan, as the defending champion, faces uncertainty regarding where the tournament will be held. India has refused to play in Pakistan due to security concerns, raising the possibility of a hybrid model, where some matches might be played outside Pakistan. However, the PCB has insisted on hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan, and discussions between the ICC and both boards are ongoing to find a solution.
