PCB urges ICC to finalise CT schedule

Board is keen to ensure best logistical planning for mega ICC event

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eagerly awaiting the final approval of the schedule for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, set to take place in February-March.In recent discussions with ICC officials, the PCB has stressed the importance of timely schedule finalization to ensure seamless logistical planning.

According to sources within the cricket board, provisional bookings have been made based on the proposed schedule. The board plans to confirm these arrangements once the official schedule is announced.

The ICC is expected to make a definitive announcement regarding the Champions Trophy schedule by the end of October.

There's also a possibility that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCCI Secretary, newly appointed ICC Chairman Jay Shah, could meet next month during the upcoming 2024 Women's World Cup final to discuss further details.

The proposed schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy indicates that Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Group B comprises England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan. The BCCI is awaiting Indian government consultations before confirming their participation in matches hosted in Pakistan.

Scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with a reserve day on March 10, the tournament's matches are set to be played across Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Lahore will host seven matches, including the final, while Karachi's National Stadium will stage the opening match and one semi-final, totaling three matches. Rawalpindi is slated to host five matches, including the other semi-final.

The semi-finals are scheduled for March 5 and 6 in Karachi and Rawalpindi, respectively, with the final set to take place in Lahore on March 9.

Stokes-led England squad set to arrive on Oct 2

England's 34-member squad, led by Ben Stokes, is set to arrive in Multan on October 2 to commence a three-match Test series against Pakistan.

The touring party includes 17 players and 17 team officials and is scheduled to arrive in Multan via Doha on Wednesday afternoon. Eight members of the English squad, including Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, were part of the team that clinched a 3-0 victory over Pakistan in 2022. Stokes, who captained the side, will once again lead the English charge.

In contrast, six players from Pakistan's previous Test squad, which was whitewashed under Babar Azam's leadership, have been dropped for the upcoming series. Azhar Ali, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Wasim Junior, and Mohammad Ali have been replaced by Saim Ayub, Mohammad Harira, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mir Hamza.

Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made significant changes to the Pakistan squad for the series opener. Leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood has been added to the pre-Test camp in Multan as the 16th player, with the final squad to be trimmed to 15 for the first Test, which begins on October 7.

The last time England's Test team toured Pakistan was in December 2022, when Pakistan endured a crushing 3-0 defeat in the three-match series.

Notably, the upcoming series, set to begin on October 7th in Multan, is part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.

England squad for Pakistan Test series: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Revised schedule:

• 7-11 Oct – First Test, Multan

• 15-19 Oct – Second Test, Multan

• 24-28 Oct–Third Test, Rawalpindi.