ICC Chief Executive Confirms ,”No plans to Relocate Champions Trophy From Pakistan”

Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has reaffirmed that there are “no plans” to relocate the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to be hosted by Pakistan early next year.

During a media briefing in Dubai, Allardice dismissed rumors about a change in venue, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding India’s participation due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, with bilateral series ceasing after December 2012. Since then, the two nations have only competed in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that India’s participation in the Champions Trophy will depend on government clearance. Rajeev Shukla, BCCI Vice-President, reiterated that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan if the Government of India grants permission.

The ICC Champions Trophy, often referred to as the “Mini World Cup,” will feature eight top teams, including India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the defending champions, Pakistan. In 2023, Pakistan had to adopt a hybrid model for hosting the Asia Cup, where India played their matches in Sri Lanka due to similar diplomatic tensions. Despite speculation that Pakistan might use a hybrid approach for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, they played all of their matches at different venues across India.

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be a major event for Pakistan, as it marks the country’s hosting of a significant ICC tournament for the first time since the 1996 World Cup.