The International Cricket Council (ICC) is gearing up for a crucial visit to Pakistan in September to assess the country’s readiness to host the Champions Trophy 2025. A key agenda item during this visit will be to review and discuss the tentative schedule of the tournament with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Delay in Champions Trophy schedule
The PCB previously submitted a proposed schedule to the ICC, but it remains subject to changes and refinements. One significant factor influencing the schedule’s finalization is the Indian team’s potential participation. The Indian government’s stance on allowing the team to tour Pakistan due to security concerns is all but negative. While it is most likely that the Rohit Sharma-led team won’t go, the confirmation is still not made.
A PTI source familiar with the developments revealed that the Indian team’s participation is a major reason for the ongoing discussions and the delay in finalizing the schedule. If India decides not to participate, it could necessitate adjustments to the tournament format and fixture list. Perhaps another country might get the right to co-host the Champions Trophy.
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Stadiums not ready in PAK?
The ICC delegation will conduct a thorough inspection of the tournament venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi to evaluate their preparedness. In the recent Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test series, the match in Karachi was forced to get shifted to Rawalpindi since the stadium was not ready.
Meetings with security officials, discussions on travel itineraries, team hotels, and broadcasting arrangements will also be on the agenda. The source indicated that the tournament schedule is likely to be released later, similar to the ODI World Cup schedule in India. With BCCI secretary Jay Shah set to assume the role of ICC chair from December 1, his involvement in the decision-making process is expected to play a crucial role.
Champions Trophy 2025 Teams & Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand |
| B | Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan |
Proposed stadiums for Champions Trophy
| Stadium | Matches |
| Gaddafi Stadium | 7 |
| Karachi’s National Stadium | 3 |
| Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 5 |
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