Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to exclude Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour after strong objections from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The revised tour will now focus solely on Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, the official host cities for the tournament.
The PCB initially announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the trophy tour would begin on November 16 in Islamabad and cover destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad, including PoK. However, this drew immediate criticism from the BCCI, with its secretary, Jay Shah, formally raising concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A senior BCCI official stated, “Jay Shah, who will assume the role of ICC Chairman on December 1, clearly conveyed that holding the tour in PoK was unacceptable. The BCCI has no issue with the tour being conducted elsewhere in Pakistan or even outside PoK, but the inclusion of PoK is non-negotiable.”
While the ICC has yet to comment, sources within the PCB revealed that the trophy tour was planned with ICC approval. “We consulted with the ICC while finalizing the itinerary. Adjustments are being made to ensure the event promotes the Champions Trophy effectively,” a PCB insider stated.
The Champions Trophy, a flagship ICC event last held in 2017, is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with eight top cricketing nations participating. Despite security concerns raised by India, the PCB has refused to relocate matches to Dubai, setting the stage for a potential hybrid model similar to the Asia Cup 2023, where India played its games in Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan government has reportedly advised the PCB against accommodating India’s request for venue changes, further intensifying the geopolitical tensions surrounding the tournament.
