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ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 8 teams will participate in the tournament. There is no clarity yet about Team India going to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the government will take the decision on playing in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been trying to convince the BCCI for a long time. However, the PCB has now moved away from this tension and adopted a new strategy. The PCB has left the task of convincing India to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The schedule and format were not discussed in the ICC meeting
In the Asia Cup organized by the PCB last year, India played all its matches in Sri Lanka on the basis of the 'hybrid model'. However, it is not yet clear whether the 'hybrid model' will be adopted in the Champions Trophy or not. In the recent ICC meeting held in Colombo, the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved but the schedule and format were not discussed. The ICC has included additional expenses in its tournament budget to cover any situation, including the possibility of the Indian team playing matches outside Pakistan.
Big responsibility given to PCB
According to a PTI report, a PCB source said, “The PCB has now done what was expected of it as the host of the Champions Trophy. It has submitted the draft schedule and format of the Champions Trophy and also submitted the budget for the Champions Trophy. The PCB now depends on the ICC as to how soon they can air and finalise the schedule of the Champions Trophy.” The PCB has proposed in the draft schedule to host all of India's matches in Lahore, including the semi-finals (if India qualifies) and the final.
Naqvi-Shah attended the annual meeting
Apart from the ICC meeting, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi did not have any formal meeting with the BCCI secretary or any other BCCI official but the talks between Naqvi and Shah during the meeting were cordial.
India's match will be held in Lahore
The BCCI has always maintained that playing cricket in Pakistan is purely a government decision and even in the 2023 ODI Asia Cup organised by the PCB, India played all its matches in Sri Lanka on a hybrid model. According to the draft released by the PCB regarding the Champions Trophy, all of India's matches, including the potential semi-finals and final, are scheduled in Lahore.
Afghanistan allowed to play in Pakistan
Meanwhile, Afghanistan has assured to play in the tournament. Afghanistan Cricket Board President Mirwaiz Ashraf and CEO Naseeb Khan, who went to Colombo to attend the ICC's annual board meeting, met Naqvi and assured him.