ICC to Decide on 2025 Champions Trophy Hosting

The ICC has called for a board meeting on November 29 to decide the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The issue revolves around India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan and Pakistan’s firm stance on hosting the entire tournament on home soil. With no agreement in sight, ICC members may need to vote on a final solution.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 19 to March 2025, but the ICC has yet to release a formal schedule. Normally, the governing body announces schedules 100 days before a major tournament, but the delay is due to India’s government denying permission for its team to travel to Pakistan. The BCCI informed the ICC of this decision two weeks ago.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which was awarded hosting rights in 2021, asked the ICC for details about India’s reasons and the timing of the decision. However, the ICC has not responded to the PCB yet. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains firm on holding all matches in Pakistan, with Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as the planned venues. He has also expressed willingness to talk with the BCCI to resolve the issue.

The ICC spokesperson confirmed the virtual meeting but did not reveal any further details. As the cricketing world waits, it is clear that resolving this standoff will require tough decisions and cooperation from all parties involved.