PCB takes a step closer to hosting ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Add as a preferred source on Google

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday signed the hosting rights agreement of the Champions Trophy 2025 with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai.

The agreement for the 2025 mega event was signed by Zaka Ashraf who heads the Cricket Management Committee running the PCB affairs at the moment.

The biggest challenge surrounding Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy remains whether the Indian government would allow its team to travel to Pakistan for its matches.

PCB failed to host Asia Cup 2023 matches after India refrained from travelling to the country. Even though the PCB retained the hosting rights, they had to agree to a hybrid where nine out of 13 matches were held in Sri Lanka. Therefore, there have been doubts whether Pakistan will stay as the host country for the Champions Trophy 2025.

PCB takes a step closer to hosting ICC Champions Trophy 2025

“Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf was joined by ICC General Counsel Jonathan Hall in the signing of the hosting rights to Pakistan at the ICC headquarters,” the PCB said in a statement.

Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996 — the ODI World Cup. Pakistan was guaranteed to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and also matches of the 2011 World Cup at home but the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 in Lahore led to both events being moved from the country due to security concerns.

Pakistan did host the 2008 Asia Cup in entirety and that was the last time India played in Pakistan. The PCB said in a statement that it has already conveyed to the government to provide foolproof security to visiting international teams for the Champions Trophy.

“The PCB in its capacity has already intimated the government to provide foolproof security to visiting international teams for the Champions Trophy,” the PCB statement added.

“Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in a recent meeting with Chairman PCB Management Committee assured the security agencies’ cooperation in the successful hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.” Another logistical problem facing the PCB would be to get its existing international venues renovated and ready for the matches of the mega event.

Presently, only Karachi, Lahore and Multan have stadiums capable of hosting Champions Trophy games.

(With Input From PTI)