The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent the schedule of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy to the ICC for final approval.
According to the draft schedule, the tournament will be held in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from February 19 to March 9.
Seven matches, including the final, will be held in Lahore. Karachi’s National Stadium will host the opening match and a semi-final. There will be a total of three matches in Karachi. Rawalpindi will host five matches, including a semi-final.
While the total of matches in the tournament is fixed at 15, the big question remains as to international cricket’s Big Daddy BCCI will respond to PCB’s slotting of all India games in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
It bears noting that only last month, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla had made clear the Indian cricket board’s stance on Team India’s participation in next year’s Champions Trophy.
While speaking to ANI, Shukla said the BCCI will follow the directives of the Union government on sending an Indian team to Pakistan.
“In the case of the Champions Trophy, we will do whatever the government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the government of India gives us permission. So, we will go according to the decision of the Indian government,” Shukla had said.
be that as it may, this event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy include Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
