The upcoming ICC CT 2025 is set to take place in Pakistan. According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is asking the ICC for compensation if Team India decides not to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
Reports mentioned a meeting between Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB management committee, along with PCB COO Salman Naseer, and the ICC executive board in Ahmedabad. The discussion revolved around hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
PCB officials urged the ICC to avoid making unilateral decisions if the BCCI declines to send Team India.
India had previously declined to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 despite Pakistan’s hosting rights. The BCCI cited their government’s refusal to allow the cricket team to travel to Pakistan. Consequently, the tournament was split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka for matches.
Additionally, PCB officials suggested that if India refuses to send their team due to security concerns, the ICC should deploy an independent security agency or committee to assess Pakistan’s security arrangements.
While India has reservations about touring Pakistan, it’s worth noting that all other top-tier teams have visited Pakistan recently without any security issues.
There’s talk of a possible hybrid model, similar to the Asia Cup 2023, for the 2025 event, with ICC compensating Pakistan for potential losses.
The last major ICC event hosted by Pakistan was back in 1996. Hosting the 2025 event would mark almost three decades since Pakistan last held a significant ICC tournament.