The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed satisfaction with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy, according to sources cited by ANI.
In an ICC meeting held on Monday, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and officials provided a detailed briefing on the progress. They assured ICC board members that the upgrades to the three stadiums set to host the tournament matches would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Naqvi also extended an invitation to ICC board members to visit Pakistan and assess the preparations for the tournament. However, certain challenges remain, particularly concerning India’s participation.
Since the 2008 Asia Cup, India has refrained from playing any cricket matches in Pakistan due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations, primarily over terrorism-related issues. The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place from December 2012 to January 2013 in India. Since then, the two sides have only faced each other in ICC events and the Asia Cup. On the other hand, Pakistan has traveled to India for cricket events on three occasions since 2008.
Amid the uncertainty over India’s participation, the ICC is reportedly considering three options for hosting the Champions Trophy. The first option is to proceed with the event as planned in Pakistan. The second is to adopt a hybrid model, where India’s matches and the knockout stages would be played in Dubai. The third option is to relocate the entire tournament outside Pakistan, with Dubai, Sri Lanka, or South Africa as possible alternative hosts.
Pakistan has not hosted a major ICC event since the 1996 ODI World Cup, which it co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.