The Pakistan Cricket Board named three proposed venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 might be played in mid-February. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are three venues that PCB has sent to ICC in the initial draft schedule. The PCB needs to upgrade that would host the first tournament of such status in the country in nearly 30 years.
Pakistan is currently the defending Champions Trophy that they won in the 2017 edition defeating arch-rivals India. The ICC bought the Champions Trophy back in 2023-2027. They awarded the hosting rights to Pakistan in the 2025 edition.
“We’ve sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore. “The ICC’s security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we’ll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We’re continuously in touch with the ICC. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan.”
The previous tournament in Pakistan was held in 1996 where India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka co-hosted ICC World Cup. Pakistan will be hosting South Africa and New Zealand for the ODI tri-series before the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan was supposed to hold the Champions Trophy in 2008 but was postponed. After this, the tournament took place in South Africa in 2009. Pakistan moved from being the cost-host with India and Sri Lanka during the 2011 edition due to some reasons.
Eight teams will take part in the tournament
A total of 8 teams will take part in the tournament. Hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan, Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and India qualified for the ICC World Cup 2023 played in India.
The main question would be whether India would travel to Pakistan for this big event. Indian team has not traveled to Pakistan’s shores since the 2008 Asia Cup.
The 2023 Asia Cup was supposed to be played in Pakistan. PCB adopted the hybrid model as India’s games were played in Sri Lanka along with the finals.
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