ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule likely to be delayed further
The uncertainty surrounding the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy continues, with the tournament’s schedule likely to be delayed once again, sources told Geo News on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains firm in its opposition to the hybrid model for the event and insists it will boycott all of India’s matches unless the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sends its team to Pakistan. This has made it unlikely that the schedule will be announced within the next 24 hours.
Broadcasters, who were promised high-profile Pakistan-India matchups that typically draw massive viewership and revenue, have also rejected a schedule that excludes these games. They have warned of potential legal action if their demands are not met.
However, sources say that the schedule could be revealed in a few days if all stakeholders are willing to compromise and come to a mutual agreement.
The ICC is working to find a resolution before BCCI Secretary Jay Shah takes over as ICC Chairman on December 1. In recent years, the ICC has ensured at least one Pakistan-India match at each major global event due to the significant revenue it generates. The 2023 World Cup clash between the two rivals attracted a record 173 million viewers on Indian TV and 225 million online.
The ICC, which secured $3.2 billion in broadcast rights for 2024-2027 and expects an additional $1 billion in other revenue, depends heavily on these high-stakes matches. It’s important to note that India has not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the BCCI declined to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which led to a hybrid format with the later stages in Sri Lanka. However, Pakistan did visit India for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
