No plans to relocate Champions Trophy from Pakistan’: ICC CEO
Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has confirmed that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will still be held in Pakistan. He assured that no team has said they don’t want to play there.
At a media event in Dubai for the Women’s T20 World Cup, Geoff said he is happy with the choice of venue for the Champions Trophy. The ICC regularly visits its member countries, including Pakistan, to make sure events can be hosted successfully. He highlighted that all teams are committed to playing in Pakistan.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, often called the “Mini World Cup,” will include eight top teams: India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka and the West Indies will not be participating. The Women’s T20 World Cup, originally set for Bangladesh, will now be held in Dubai and Sharjah due to political issues in Bangladesh. The tournament starts on October 3 and ends on October 20.
Geoff expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to host the Champions Trophy and reaffirmed the ICC’s commitment to promoting global cricket. The matches will take place in three cities: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. According to the PCB’s proposed schedule, all of India’s matches will be played in Lahore.
The PCB has set aside Rs12.80 billion to upgrade three stadiums: Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium.
All seven teams, except India, have already played in Pakistan. The PCB believes there’s no strong reason for India not to come. Pakistan is the defending champion of the Champions Trophy, having won it in 2017 by defeating India in the final.
