The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual conference kicks off today in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A key item on the agenda is the budget approval for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. However, this discussion is clouded by the ongoing political tension between India and Pakistan.
Champions Trophy 2025 budget
The Champions Trophy budget proposal comes after allegations of overspending during the recent T20 World Cup, particularly concerning a temporary stadium built in New York.
The CT 25 budget will be presented to the ICC Board for approval, but it must first pass through the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) meeting on July 21st. Importantly, this committee is chaired by Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
India to visit Pakistan for CT 25?
Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are proposed as host cities for the eight-team Champions Trophy. However, India’s participation remains a major question mark.
Recent incidents of violence in Jammu & Kashmir raise doubts about whether the Indian government will grant permission for the team to tour Pakistan. This is not unprecedented, as India withdrew from last year’s Asia Cup in Pakistan due to similar security concerns.
Alternative venue or co-hosting a possibility?
The possibility of a similar arrangement for the Champions Trophy is being considered, with UAE or Sri Lanka potentially co-hosting the event.
A final decision will likely be made during the ICC meetings. The ICC has already scheduled inspections of the three proposed venues in Pakistan for September.
Other ICC Conference Events
The five-day conference also features elections for Associate Member Director positions and the awarding of the Associate Member Women’s Performance of the Year to UAE for their dominant performance in the recent T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier.
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