Pakistan won’t host Champions Trophy in 2025? ICC member says board can’t go against government’s policy

India have not played in Pakistan after the terrorist attack in Mumbai soured the relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan won’t host Champions Trophy in 2025? ICC member says board can’t go against government’s policy

Pakistan team (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Will Pakistan host the Champions Trophy in 2025? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in all possibilities, won’t be sending the Men in Blue to Pakistan; and like what happened before the 2023 Asia Cup, there will be a lot of drama because of this, ahead of the tournament in 2025.

India did not want to send their players to play in Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup because the government did not give them permission to do so. After a series of meetings, Pakistan agreed to their ‘hybrid model’. As per the hybrid model, Pakistan hosted just four matches while Sri Lanka hosted the rest of the matches. There are some reports that stated that UAE may host the Champions Trophy.

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India have not played in Pakistan after the terrorist attack in Mumbai soured the relationship between the two countries. The last time the Men in Blue visited Pakistan was in 2006. An ICC board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity that if the Indian government doesn’t allow India to travel to Pakistan, then the ICC may try to look for an alternative.

Every member can raise concerns for discussion at board meetings and then it would go to a vote. But if the government (of a member nation) expressly says that they can't play there, ICC would need to look for an alternative.
An administrator told PTI
ICC board's position remains that it doesn't expect its members to go against any policy/instructions issued by its own government.
The administrator added

Pakistan to host tri-series for the first time since 2004

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with the chairmen of Cricket South Africa and New Zealand Cricket. They discussed the tri-series which will be played in Pakistan in 2025, just before the start of the Champions Trophy.

2025 champions trophy
Pakistan team (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

This is also the first time Pakistan will host a tri-series after 20 years. They last hosted a tri-series in 2004- the tri-series was between Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Naqvi took to X to express his excitement over hosting the tri-series in Pakistan. He also expressed his hope to see Pakistan host the 2025 Champions Trophy.

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