The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour will kick off in Islamabad on November 16, with stops at scenic locations including Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the tour, which will run until November 24, offering fans a chance to see the trophy Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval.
This marks the first time an ICC trophy tour will take place before the tournament’s schedule is officially announced.
Traditionally, the schedule is revealed four months before the event, but the ICC has yet to confirm the dates for the 2025 Champions Trophy, set for February 19–March 9. The delay is primarily due to India’s refusal to participate in Pakistan, citing government approval issues.
India’s stance has put the tournament in jeopardy, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) making it clear it will not travel to Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected the option of a hybrid model, where India would play its matches at a neutral venue, and has demanded a formal written response from the ICC and BCCI.
The uncertainty has left broadcasters, who paid $3 billion for the broadcasting rights through 2027, facing mounting pressure as the tournament’s schedule remains unclear.
While the UAE is a potential neutral venue in the event of a hybrid setup, the PCB insists on hosting the tournament in Pakistan, citing recent successful international tours by England and New Zealand as proof of the country’s security readiness.
With no resolution in sight, the fate of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy hangs in the balance.
[…] deadlock over hosting the eight-team Champions Trophy ended when the ICC confirmed India will play its matches at a neutral venue, while Pakistan will […]