The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy tour will start in Islamabad on Saturday. The trophy will also be displayed at the city’s famous landmarks, including Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument, with legendary speedster Shoaib Akhtar marking his presence.
The trophy tour is a promotional event held before every major ICC event. However, it ran into a major controversy after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday that places like Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad – three of which are in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) – would be on the trophy tour list.
Following a strong objection by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, only Murree has been retained in the trophy tour itinerary announced by the ICC. Additional locations like Taxila, Khanpur, Abbottabad, Nathia Gali, and Karachi have been included in the Pakistan edition of the trip, which will continue until November 25.
“The silverware, which will be showcased across all participating nations, will allow the sport’s passionate fanbase to enjoy the unforgettable experience of being up close with the iconic trophy,” said Anurag Dahiya, ICC Chief Commercial Officer.
The trophy will tour Afghanistan from November 26-28, then travel to Bangladesh from December 10-13, and South Africa from December 15-22. It will then be in Australia from December 25-January 5, followed by New Zealand from January 6-11. After touring England from January 12-14, the trophy will be in India from January 15-26 before returning to Pakistan on January 27.
The Men’s Champions Trophy was last held in 2017 in England and was won by Pakistan. However, the formal schedule of the eight-team tournament remains uncertain after the BCCI denied travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. The PCB has so far not agreed to host it under a hybrid model.
(Inputs from IANS)