The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to exclude Skardu, Murree, and Muzaffarabad—regions within Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—from the Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour. This decision follows concerns raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the tour plan shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB had announced a nationwide trophy tour from November 16 to 24, but the ICC opted to omit PoK from the itinerary. This development comes against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, with the ICC notifying the PCB that India will not travel to Pakistan for the event.
Key dates of the Trophy Tour:
16 November – Islamabad, Pakistan
17 November - Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan
18 November – Abbottabad, Pakistan
19 November- Murree, Pakistan
20 November- Nathia Gali, Pakistan
22 - 25 November – Karachi, Pakistan
26 – 28 November – Afghanistan
10 – 13 December – Bangladesh
15 – 22 December – South Africa
25 December – 5 January – Australia
6 – 11 January – New Zealand
12 – 14 January – England
15 – 26 January – India
27 January – event start – Pakistan
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally requested a written clarification from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding its decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year, according to a report by Geo News.
This request follows the BCCI's verbal communication to the ICC, indicating that the team would not travel to Pakistan for the high-profile tournament. Meanwhile, sources revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the ICC to share a copy of India's response to the matter.
"In case of receiving a written reply, Pakistan may seek substantial evidence supporting the reasons," sources told Geo News, adding that the ICC would then have to take a final decision about India after reviewing those reasons.
According to sources cited by Geo News, if India does not provide satisfactory reasons for declining to travel to Pakistan, they may be directed to participate in the tournament as scheduled.
Should India refuse to play in Pakistan, another team could potentially be brought in as a replacement for the event.
Pakistan, the defending champions of the upcoming Champions Trophy, recently announced that the trophy tour for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will commence from Islamabad on November 16, despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding India's participation and the tournament's schedule.
