The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been compelled to revise its plans for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour following objections from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Initially, the tour was set to include stops in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but the PCB has now limited the trophy’s journey to the host cities of Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
ICC’s Role in the Decision
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which had approved the original schedule and venues for the trophy tour, reportedly did not anticipate BCCI’s objections. Following the pushback, the ICC intervened, ensuring that the PCB altered its plans to avoid regions that could spark geopolitical tensions.
Original Plan for Trophy Tour
The PCB had planned an elaborate tour, beginning in Islamabad on November 16, with subsequent stops in Murree, Hunza, Skardu, and Muzaffarabad. These regions, particularly those in PoK, became a contentious point after BCCI Secretary Jay Shah raised concerns with the ICC.
PCB’s Position
A PCB source confirmed that the board is in discussions with the ICC to finalize a revised plan that promotes the Champions Trophy within Pakistan while adhering to the ICC’s guidelines. “The original tour was planned in consultation with the ICC. The PCB had not unilaterally finalized the trophy tour schedule,” the source stated.
Champions Trophy in Pakistan
The Champions Trophy 2025 marks the first ICC tournament hosted by Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup. However, the tournament has already been mired in controversies, with the BCCI expressing reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan and discussions about relocating the event.
This latest development underscores the challenges faced by the PCB in hosting international events amid tense India-Pakistan relations.