After objections from the BCCI, the ICC revised the venue list for the Champions Trophy Trophy Tour. Initially, the parade was scheduled for Muzaffarabad, Skardu, and Hunza Cali, but these locations were replaced following BCCI’s concerns.
On Saturday, the ICC officially announced new venues for the tour. It will now kick off in Islamabad, featuring prominent landmarks like Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and Pakistan Memorial. The tour’s opening day will include a special appearance by Shoaib Akhtar, a legendary Pakistani cricketer, adding excitement to the event.
Trophy Tour Key Dates
- November 16: Islamabad, Pakistan
- November 17: Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan
- November 18: Abbottabad, Pakistan
- November 19: Murree, Pakistan
- November 20: Nathia Gali, Pakistan
- November 22-25: Karachi, Pakistan
- November 26-28: Afghanistan
- December 10-13: Bangladesh
- December 15-22: South Africa
- December 25-January 5: Australia
- January 6-11: New Zealand
- January 12-14: England
- January 15-26: India
- January 27: Start of the Programme
Excitement for the upcoming Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 builds up, as the Trophy Tour kicks off in Islamabad 🎉https://t.co/QfQJesYVRf
— ICC (@ICC) November 16, 2024
Champions Trophy in Trouble
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is facing uncertainty due to ongoing tensions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Pakistan insists on hosting the event, while the BCCI maintains that India will not travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns. The PCB has refused to adopt a hybrid model for the tournament, as was done in the 2023 Asia Cup, further complicating matters.
India-Pakistan Tensions
On November 10, the PCB confirmed receiving an email from the ICC stating that India officially refused to participate in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Cricketing ties between the two countries have been strained since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with no bilateral series held since then.
Pakistan Not Adopting Hybrid Model
The PCB has refused to adopt the hybrid model used in the 2023 Asia Cup, which allowed India’s matches to be played elsewhere. The BCCI has reiterated that India will not travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.