The trophy tour of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Skardu, Murree, and Muzaffarabad—all of which are located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—has been cancelled by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The decision was made soon after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) immediately objected to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) announcement that these towns would be included in the tour itinerary. Notably, before the cricket match, the PCB had arranged a Champions Trophy 'trophy tour' across the country from November 16 to 24.
The PCB planned the trophy tour in anticipation of the eight-team competition, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February or March of 2025. However, according to information obtained by Sports Tak, the trophy tour has been cancelled in the places that are located within Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir's (POK) disputed territory.
Meanwhile, India's unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the cricket competition has caused controversy surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025. In a letter to the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked for an explanation of India's decision to not come to Pakistan for the competition.
The PCB has asked for an explicit explanation of India's position in its letter to the ICC. The event format and a possible hybrid model are not included in the Pakistani communication.
In a statement, the PCB affirmed that the ICC notified it of the BCCI's ruling. The Pakistani government has reportedly received the PCB's notification from the ICC and will decide what to do next. The Champions Trophy's future is uncertain as a result of the PCB and BCCI's impasse. In anticipation of the competition the following year, Pakistan has already set aside about 17 billion rupees to renovate stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
