Moin Khan, former Pakistan cricketer has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board’s strategy ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as the event’s schedule and venues continue to stir confusion. Now scheduled to be held between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan, the original proposal of hosting the event in the country is in question after India refused to send their team to the neighboring nation and the location of the event remains uncertain at best.
How’ll Pakistan Host Amid Controversy?
While PCB was keen to host the whole event here in Pakistan including the matches of India, India’s insistence to play on a neutral venue complicated things further. The BCCI has unequivocally stated that they would not travel to Pakistan since they still have security as well as political issues there. Thus, the International Cricket Council (ICC) still hasn’t announced the full schedule and the venues of this much-awaited tournament.
Trophy Tour To Begin From November 16
Amid all this, the Trophy Tour is to begin on November 16 from Pakistan. The first stop in the tour would be in Skardu in northern Pakistan. Moin Khan was having doubts over the logic behind this trophy tour, given that he was still not clear whether the matches were to be held in Abu Dhabi or somewhere else.
Get ready, Pakistan!
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 14, 2024
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24… pic.twitter.com/SmsV5uyzlL
Moin Khan Questions PCB
“What is the purpose of this trophy tour when no one really knows at which venues the tournament will be held and whether Pakistan and India will play against each other in the event?,” he said as quoted by Sportskeeda
“Strange having a trophy tour without the schedule being announced,” said Moin Khan
The Champions Trophy was to be formally launched at a date announced for the unveiling of their schedules in Lahore on Nov 11. But with India’s withdrawal and the PCB announcement that it should be played in Pakistan, the ICC has still made no official statements about the fixtures or venues for this tournament. And as the situation is fluid, the main obstacle continues haunting the Champions Trophy in its plans for 2025.
