Pakistan announce ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Trophy Tour
In Short
- The PCB has launched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour, including stops in disputed areas of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
- India has refused to send its team to Pakistan, delaying the release of the Champions Trophy schedule.
- The PCB rejects the hybrid model and insists on hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan.
- India’s absence could lead to significant financial losses, with the UAE potentially stepping in as a neutral host.
Pakistan’s announcement of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour has caused a stir. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that the tour will start in Islamabad on November 16 and travel to places like Skardu, Hunza, Murree, and Muzaffarabad. These areas are part of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), a region that India claims as its own. This move has been seen as a provocation toward India, especially after India’s refusal to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the tournament due to security concerns.
India’s decision to not send its team to Pakistan has led to delays in announcing the Champions Trophy schedule. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India would not travel to Pakistan, citing ongoing political tensions. The PCB has asked the ICC for an explanation and is pushing for the tournament to be held fully in Pakistan. There are also discussions about a “hybrid model” where some games could be played in a neutral location, like the UAE, to accommodate India’s concerns.
The situation has become more complex with Pakistan’s foreign ministry stepping in to deny any secret talks with India over the Champions Trophy. The PCB insists that they are committed to hosting the event entirely in Pakistan, despite India’s refusal to participate. This has left the ICC trying to figure out a way to resolve the disagreement, but with just months left before the tournament begins, there is still no clear solution.
If India does not participate, the financial loss could be significant, as India’s involvement brings in millions in revenue. The PCB has been adamant that the tournament should stay in Pakistan, but there is also the possibility that the UAE could step in as a neutral venue. This would mean the tournament could still happen, but it would likely reduce the overall revenue for the event, which is important to both the ICC and the PCB.
The tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir also play a major role in the current situation. India has consistently stated that PoK is part of its territory, and this has made any international event in the region politically sensitive. Pakistan’s decision to include PoK in the Champions Trophy tour is seen as a deliberate move to assert control over the area, further deepening the divide between the two countries.
With the tournament scheduled for February 2025, the clock is ticking. The ICC, PCB, and BCCI will need to come to a resolution soon, either by finding a way for India to participate or agreeing on a neutral venue. The outcome of these discussions will likely be influenced by the political and diplomatic challenges between India and Pakistan, making it a difficult situation to resolve.
