ICC urges Pakistan, India to find solution to Champions Trophy 'confusion'
ICC Champions Trophy is being displayed at the National Bank Stadium. Photo: Shahzaib Bhutto/ Twitter
The future of the ICC Champions Trophy remains unresolved, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) urging both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to find a viable solution.
A resolution is expected within the next 24 to 48 hours, as both boards continue discussions. The tournament’s fate has been in limbo since earlier this month when the ICC announced that India had declined to travel to Pakistan for the eight-team competition.
According to reports from Espncricinfo, the issue was discussed in an ICC board meeting held on Friday, which lasted less than 15 minutes. The meeting, attended by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, was adjourned without a decision.
Sources indicated that any proposal for the tournament’s future must first be approved by the governments of both India and Pakistan. India has refused permission for its team to travel to Pakistan, leading to ongoing diplomatic and cricketing tensions between the two nations.
A source familiar with the discussions stated that all parties are continuing to work towards a positive resolution. It is expected that the ICC board will reconvene in the next few days to finalise a decision.
Despite these ongoing talks, the PCB’s position remains unchanged, with the board insisting that India must play the tournament in Pakistan as originally scheduled, from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
The Champions Trophy was last held in 2017 in England, where Pakistan emerged victorious. The 2025 edition is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, marking the first time an ICC event will be held in the country since the 1996 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
The political tensions between India and Pakistan have long impacted cricketing relations. The two nations have not played a bilateral series since 2008, and they only meet at multi-team events.
In 2023, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup, but due to political tensions, India played all of its matches in Sri Lanka under what was called a "hybrid model."