The debate is growing over the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as ripples are being reported in the cricketing world, especially now after India’s firm stance on not traveling to Pakistan for the event. India has insisted on a hybrid model whereby they would play their matches in the neutral venue, say Dubai, while the rest of the tournament would be held in Pakistan. Still, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has remained rigid and persisting that it has already finalized the decision to host all the matches in Pakistan despite knowing India’s stance on this issue.
Sports Tak reported that PCB may go for extreme measures, which also include withdrawal from the tournament and no games against India in any international fixtures, such a fierce act may force the ICC to consider changing the venue of the event and can even shortstop that and relocate the event itself from Pakistan.
South Africa Will Not Be Hosting The Event
A previously considered viable alternative was South Africa. However, scheduling conflicts with the SA20 cricket league have now ruled out this possibility, as the league’s conclusion just days before the Champions Trophy would leave the pitches in sub-optimal condition for an international event.
Will India Be The New Host?
Thus, India is now a hot favourite to step in as the host, should Pakistan pull out. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is said to be contemplating the idea of staging this tournament on Indian soil.
Security reasons form the chief cause of India’s pulling out of the Champions Trophy, and this has been elaborately put down in a dossier submitted by the BCCI to the ICC. Since the Asia Cup in 2008, India hadn’t traveled to Pakistan, even after the tragic 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place followed by a worsening bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Uncertainty Looms Over The Hosting Of Champions Trophy
The 2025 Champions Trophy would have been the first ICC event to be held in Pakistan since 1996 when it had hosted the Cricket World Cup. Uncertainty only continues to grow surrounding Pakistan’s ability to host the tournament, and it now appears increasingly likely that it will have to be moved to a different venue.
Loss For Pakistan If Event Gets Shifted
While the BCCI and ICC had cited a hybrid model under which India could play their match at a neutral venue, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has termed this proposed suggestion as rejected. If the Champions Trophy is shifted out of Pakistan, the PCB would lose around $65 million- approximately Rs 548.61 crore-a staggering financial loss.
Eights Teams To Participate
As of now, the proposed date for the tournament would be from February 19 to March 9 for Champions Trophy 2025. This will have participation of eight teams, namely Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. They are divided into two groups of four, and the first two from each group are taken forward to the semifinals. Eventually, the champions trophy is given to the winners of the match among the two teams of semifinals.
As the tensions build with increasing hands on both clocks toward that day of reckoning, only time will tell how things play out within the next few months.
