The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is a significant milestone for Pakistan, as it will be the first time since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team that Pakistan will be the sole host of an ICC tournament. Scheduled to take place in February and March across three stadiums, this event signifies Pakistan’s return as a major cricketing destination, with the last major tournament hosted there being the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
To ensure the successful organization of the tournament, an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation, led by Senior Manager Sarah Edgar and Manager Aoun Zaidi, arrived in Pakistan on March 25th. Their visit began with inspections at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, where they were briefed on the preparations by stadium management. Additionally, meetings with law enforcement representatives are on the agenda to address security concerns.
The delegation’s itinerary also includes visits to Lahore and Rawalpindi, the other host cities, with ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley, joining them in Rawalpindi. The hosting rights agreement for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was finalized in December 2023, with former PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf and ICC General Counsel Jonathan Hall signing the agreement at the ICC headquarters in Dubai.
Pakistan’s automatic qualification as hosts adds to the anticipation, especially considering their status as the reigning champions, having won the previous edition in 2017. However, the absence of former champions Sri Lanka, who failed to qualify due to poor performance in the recent ODI World Cup, adds a unique twist to the tournament dynamics.
Following the format of previous editions, the tournament will feature two groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. With preparations underway and excitement building, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy promises to be a memorable event, marking Pakistan’s resurgence on the international cricketing stage.
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