ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB proposes Three Venues for Tournament

Add as a preferred source on Google

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed three venues for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy which is scheduled to be held there next year.

Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy in 2025, marking the first ICC event in the country in nearly three decades, since they hosted the World Cup back in 1996.

Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been proposed as venues in the initial draft schedule sent to the ICC. The tournament is scheduled to be held in mid-February next year and it will be an eight-team competition stretched for about two weeks.

"We've sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy," PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore.

"The ICC's security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we'll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We're continuously in touch with the ICC. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan," he added.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about hosting the event, highlighting ongoing discussions with the ICC, particularly regarding venue upgrades and security arrangements. The PCB's proactive approach reflects their commitment to delivering a successful tournament.

"We're continuously in touch with the ICC. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan," Naqvi further said.

However, the participation of the Indian team in Pakistan given the strained political relations between the two nations remains uncertain. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to diplomatic tensions. BCCI was not allowed NOC by the Indian government last year during the Asia Cup which prompted the tournament to be hosted in a Hybrid way as India played all of the matches including the final in Sri Lanka.

The Champions Trophy will be part of a busy home season for Pakistan, including hosting South Africa and New Zealand for an ODI tri-series.

Improving the stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi for the Champions Trophy is a priority for the PCB, acknowledging the need for significant updates. The focus is on ensuring that the venues meet international standards to host the tournament successfully.