The Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March 2025, remains uncertain as the ICC has not announced the schedule and venues yet. The eight-team tournament hangs in the balance after the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that India would not tour Pakistan due to security concerns. The media has reported on a hybrid model for the tournament, but no such confirmation has come out.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s stance after India pulled out of the ICC event. Afridi said that India, on its part, has offered a hybrid model whereby it can play its matches at a neutral venue. However, no concrete decisions were made during the ICC’s recent Board Meeting as fans and stakeholders wait for more announcements.
“Now, ICC has to decide whether its main objective is to see that every member country can play cricket or it only wants to fill its coffers,” Afridi said at a conference in Urdu at the Karachi Arts Council.
Afridi said that if India continues its stance of not touring Pakistan, it would not allow Pakistan to go to India either for any of the ICC events. He asked for Pakistan cricket to be self-sufficient and take principled decisions on its future course.
“Pakistan cricket needs to be strong and capable of standing on its own two feet. If India won’t come and play in Pakistan, then there is no need for us to go to India for any event,” he said.
PTI: The ICC has reached an interim agreement to stage the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model and as part of it, India could play its matches in Dubai. However, there is a settlement in principle on the same structure for multi-lateral events through 2027.
Currently, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi are scheduled to host the Champions Trophy in 2025, while the participating teams include Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
