Mumbai, November 15: The ICC has put the 2025 Champions Trophy tour on hold following controversy over the locations chosen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The tour, initially scheduled to begin on November 16, 2024, in Islamabad, included stops in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad — which were announced without the International Cricket Council’s approval. This has sparked objections from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), leading to the suspension of the tour.
The PCB had promoted the tour on social media, inviting fans to witness the Champions Trophy trophy at various scenic locations in Pakistan. However, the inclusion of PoK sites, which are disputed territories, angered Indian officials, who raised their concerns with the ICC through official channels.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah strongly condemned the PCB’s decision, accusing the board of using the trophy tour for political purposes. Shah emphasized that the PCB’s actions had bypassed the necessary protocols and formal approval from the ICC. The ICC has acknowledged India’s complaint and is now in discussions with both the PCB and BCCI to resolve the issue.
An official source confirmed that the trophy tour is usually managed by the host nation in coordination with the ICC. In the past, ICC events, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, have featured carefully planned tours to promote the tournament. The PCB’s failure to follow this process has created complications ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
With less than 100 days remaining before the event, the location of the tournament itself remains unclear. The BCCI has made it clear that Indian players will not travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and has requested that India’s matches, as well as the final (if India qualifies), be relocated to a neutral venue.
“Our stand is simple: we will follow the direction of our government,” said BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla. “We have already communicated our concerns to the ICC.” The BCCI has proposed a hybrid model, where some matches would be held in the UAE, similar to last year’s Asia Cup, which was relocated to Sri Lanka due to security issues in Pakistan.
The PCB has proposed three cities — Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi — to host the event and insists that all matches should be played in Pakistan. The PCB has also written to the ICC asking the BCCI to provide a formal explanation for their objections. The ICC is currently in talks with both boards to find a resolution.
The dispute has raised concerns about the commercial success of the 2025 Champions Trophy, with the ICC facing significant pressure to resolve the issue. The absence of India from the tournament would have major financial consequences, as Indian cricket fans represent a key portion of the global cricket audience.
“It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy,” said Richard Thompson, Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board. “There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. They will find a way to resolve this, they have to.”
As the tension continues, the ICC faces a critical decision on how to proceed with the event while balancing the interests of all participating nations.
