Xtra Time Web Desk: The forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 may not be held in Pakistan, according to reports. Dubai emerges as the likely venue if the tournament is shifted from Pakistan. The marquee event can also be staged in a hybrid model like the Asia Cup 2023. Pakistan Cricket Board have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sign the Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights agreements. PCB have also written to ICC about compensation if India refuses to travel to their country.
Although ICC has marked Pakistan as the host for Champions Trophy in 2025, a decision is not yet been made by the global body to sign the important hosting agreement with it. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and COO Salman Naseer met the ICC executive board before the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad to discuss about the marquee event in Pakistan in March 2025.
“Pakistani officials discussed the probability of the Indian board (BCCI) again refusing to send its team to Pakistan and made it clear that in any given situation the ICC must avoid taking unilateral decisions on the tournament,” a source said.
The Indian Government is reluctant to allow teams to travel to Pakistan because of security reasons. Since security is the biggest concern for India, PCB officials had also recommended ICC that if India refuses to play in Pakistan on security grounds, the global body should appoint an independent security agency.
There was a similar situation when the Indian cricket board refused to send its team for recently held Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan. Seeing no other options, PCB agreed to host the tournament in a hybrid model with India playing all its matches in Sri Lanka including the final.