The announcement regarding the schedule of the 2025 edition of ICC Champions Trophy has been expected in a few days and within the timeframe of Pakistan cricket being allowed to host the event next year. The ICC is already in contact with the host Pakistan and the other team members as well and so a report in India Today on Tuesday, November 19, a source was quoted to have said that the tournament schedule is likely to be announced shortly.
“We are still having discussions with the host and the participating members of the tournament on the Champions Trophy schedule. It should be out soon, most likely in a couple of days or so,” the source explained.
Often the Pakistan Cricket Board has stated that the 8-nation tournament will be hosted only within the territories of the country but new reports say, “back-channel negotiations are on in a bid to persuade the PCB that the back to back hosted games model is the most realistic option as Indians are not expected to come over the borders for the one day games that are scheduled for February and March next year.”
“Most of the administrative and business cricket stakeholders have prioritised the need for India’s inclusion in the tournament because the Men in Blue have a huge fan base that translates into revenue”.
“The PCB has also been informed of the financial impact that would result should they choose to withdraw from the competition. Pakistan has been asked not to issue anti-BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) comments and encouraged to prepare for a hybrid model to prevent disruption of the eight-nation tournament,” the statement concluded.
Speaking to the media in Pakistan on Monday, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi stated that all the qualified teams are ought to travel for the ICC event. In case India has a problem, Naqvi said that the board is “willing to have a discussion” and “make sure the problem is solved.” As per him, there is no casual reason why India should not visit Pakistan for the first ICC event organized in the country since the 1996 ODI World Cup.
“Every other team that qualified for the Champions Trophy is prepared to arrive. There are no issues,” Naqvi stated.
“If India has any issues, we will talk, and we will make, sure those issues are addressed. I don’t see any reason, which is why India cannot visit Pakistan.
“Let’s hope the case will be all teams will come,” he said further.