The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to cancel the Champions Trophy tour in the PoK areas. The PCB had said on Thursday (November 14) that the trophy will visit Skardu, Hunza, Murree and Muzaffarabad. According to a report, BCCI objected to PCB’s plan and then ICC asked the Pakistan board to cancel the trophy tour in the said cities. According to sources, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah also condemned the PCB’s move to take the trophy to POK.
ICC cancels Champions Trophy tour in PoK
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has canceled the planned 2025 ICC Champions Trophy trophy tour to Skardu, Muri and Muzaffarabad, areas that fall in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The decision came soon after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the inclusion of these cities in the tour programme, which was immediately objected to by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is noteworthy that PCB had announced a nationwide trophy tour of Champions Trophy from 16 to 24 November.
This eight-team tournament is to be held in Pakistan in February-March 2025 and to prepare for this Mahakumbh of cricket, PCB had organized a trophy tour. However, India Today has learned that the Trophy tour to cities falling under the disputed territory of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been cancelled.
Champions Trophy 2025 mired in controversy
Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy 2025 is mired in controversy as India has refused to go to Pakistan for this cricket event. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written a letter to the ICC seeking clarification on India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. In its letter to the ICC, the PCB has sought official clarification regarding India’s stand. The letter sent by Pakistan did not discuss the format of the event or a possible hybrid model.
PCB had announced
“Get ready, Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour will begin on November 16 in Islamabad, which will also visit tourist destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad,” PCB wrote on Twitter on Thursday evening. The trophy tour will run from 16 to 24 November and the trophy will reach Islamabad on 14 November (Thursday).
However, after the ICC canceled the trophy tour to the PoK areas, the PCB will now have to come up with a new plan. Notably, the tour will not take place in the three cities that are planned to host Champions Trophy matches. Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi – these three places will host the games.
However, the trophy will remain away from these cities due to the current smog. It remains to be seen whether the PCB now makes any changes to its previous plan of not taking the trophy to these venues. There has been no significant development since the PCB asked the ICC for an explanation from the BCCI for refusing to tour Pakistan.
Several reports have said that there is a possibility of a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy in which India will play its matches in UAE or Sri Lanka. However, there has been no confirmation from the ICC yet. Interestingly, the ICC was going to announce the schedule of the competition by setting a 100-day countdown on November 11. But due to India’s refusal to go to Pakistan, things have been delayed again.
Get ready, Pakistan!
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24… pic.twitter.com/SmsV5uyzlL
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 14, 2024