DUBAI: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. Host nation and defending champions Pakistan along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa will participate in the tournament.
India has expressed reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the event. While the BCCI has not made any direct statements, it has conveyed its concerns through the media several times. Sources suggest that India’s hesitation has raised ICC’s concerns, prompting them to consider alternative plans. The issue will be a major topic at the ICC’s annual conference in Colombo from July 19-22, where the possibility of hosting the tournament in another country besides Pakistan will be discussed.
During the conference, India will be asked to confirm its participation in Pakistan. The BCCI is expected to mention the need for government approval, which could lead to discussions about a hybrid model involving the UAE as co-hosts. The Indian government typically does not provide written denials or explanations for its decisions, raising concerns that a last-minute Indian withdrawal could jeopardize the event. As a result, the ICC is preparing contingency plans. The budget to host the tournament in another country along with Pakistan is on the agenda of the ICC meeting.
Earlier, India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and got support from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In this situation, financial influence can also influence other boards of directors. One of the ideas being considered is to host matches exclusively in Karachi, which will ease travel logistics with Dubai. However, to avoid possible opposition from Pakistan, Rawalpindi and Lahore remain the proposed locations. There was also discussion about keeping Pakistan and India in separate groups, but Pakistan’s proposed plan puts them in Group A with arch-rivals Bangladesh and New Zealand. Group B includes Australia, Afghanistan, England and South Africa.
Chartered flights will be provided for team travel. If India continues to run the event under the hybrid model, Pakistan could lose out on hosting the semi-finals and finals. According to the proposed schedule, the opening match on February 19 will be held at the National Stadium in Karachi, while the final will be held on March 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. If the Colombo meeting reaches consensus, the ICC will publish a schedule of events shortly afterwards.
