The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly still in talks with participating nations over the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule, taking into account current travel issues between India and Pakistan, this has also stirred a huge debate. India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan has sparked a growing speculation that the tournament will have to be relocated-an eventuality that has thrown a ruling Pakistani cricket body into an uproar.
Champions Trophy 2025: Will South Africa Be The Host?
There was talk of South Africa coming in as a potential host for next year’s Champions Trophy. However, according to a PTI report, no such discussion went on at the ICC meeting on Tuesday. The event’s launch for the tournament was scheduled to be held in Lahore on November 11, which has now been postponed as the situation remains unresolved.
PCB Stands Firm Against Hybrid Model
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claims it sent a letter to the ICC demanding that it receive an official, written confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that India will not participate in Pakistan. The PCB has also pointed out that the security issues here are baseless; it recently hosted a three-Test series with England successfully. Despite this, it appears the tournament is likely to be played out in a hybrid format, at least in part played outside Pakistan, though the PCB has vocally opposed this format.
The hybrid model had been used earlier for the 2023 Asia Cup when India did not agree to come to Pakistan, and the ICC is once again toying with the idea. However, PCB are adamant that Champions Trophy cannot be played outside Pakistan, be it in the UAE, though they are considering it as an alternative venue if the hybrid format were to be implemented.
Political Tensions Disrupting The Game
Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan participating in multiple ICC events hosted by India, including the 2023 World Cup. Since then, the two countries have only played one bilateral series, a white-ball tour in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan To Take BIG Step If India’s No-Show Affects Hosting Rights
Pakistan have been very magnanimous over the years, accepting the ICC’s invitation to many events in India and even assisted the ICC and BCCI avoid problems with broadcasters. But after making a decision to avoid participating in the 2023 Asia Cup to be hosted in Pakistan, thus creating a hybrid format of the tournament, and also after declining to send its cricket team for the Champions Trophy, it is now proposed that the Pakistani government may review its new policy regarding not allowing their teams to play against India “unless sports and politics are kept separate.”
