The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially arrived in Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy venue inspection. The Officials will remain 4 days in Pakistan and inspect stadiums, pitches, and preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
According to sources, ICC official Andy Atkinson will visit three venues, the inspection will start from Karachi Stadium, then he will visit Lahore Gaddafi Stadium, and then Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Recently, Last month three members of the ICC team also inspected these three venues. The event will start in February 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also shared the initial draft schedule with ICC with a schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy at these chosen venues.
To help with the wicket preparation for the major event, it is also anticipated that Andy Atkinson will provide his advice to the local ground crew while he is there.
Recall that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chose Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as the event’s locations. It is expected to take place in February.
The precise dates of the eight-team competition have not yet been announced, but it is expected to last for more than two weeks. The PCB decided on the locations and the itinerary after an ICC delegation visited to perform an inspection.
The initial draft includes all matches, including those involving India, being played in Pakistan.
PCB presents three Champions Trophy 2025 Venues to the ICC
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi said on Tuesday that there is no reason for India not to come to Pakistan to play in the tournament.
“We have sent the schedule [of the Champions Trophy] to the ICC, all eight teams will come,” Naqvi assured. “There is no reason as to why India would refuse to come.
“If they [India] are doing propaganda, why aren’t you doing as well?” Naqvi asked the media. “We are not thinking of a hybrid model, there is no talk of the sort.”
India may not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year, and the venue for the event will likely get relocated or a hybrid model might be used, a BCCI source told IANS last month.
“Forget bilateral series…Team India may not even travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. There might be a change of venue, a hybrid model is also possible,” a BCCI source said.
“The Indian board would need permission from the government for travel, currently our relations with Pakistan are not that good either.
“Champions Trophy is an ICC event, so it would be a tough call for India but nothing without the government’s order/green signal. Bilateral series, I don’t see shortly, that’s next to impossible.”
The next official ICC meeting is the global body’s annual conference in July.
This event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy include Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
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