(Source X)
The spotlight at the recently-concluded ICC Annual General Meeting in Colombo was focused on the venue announcement for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. There was keen anticipation for clarity on whether Pakistan, with hosting rights for the 2025 tournament, would be able to host matches given India’s concerns over security issues.
Despite hopes for a breakthrough in the strained relations between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), no discussions or sideline talks materialized during the AGM. Reports indicate that the matter wasn’t even on the meeting agenda, leaving the issue unresolved for now.
Champions Trophy budget on hold.
India has refrained from visiting Pakistan since 2008, with the last bilateral series occurring in the 2012-13 season. Since then, their encounters have been restricted to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cups. While Pakistan did travel to India for ICC events in 2016 and 2023, bilateral ties remain suspended, prompting the need for alternative hosting arrangements.
Notably, India opted out of visiting Pakistan last year, even when the PCB was slated to host the Asia Cup. Consequently, the Asian Cricket Council devised a hybrid model, relocating India’s matches to Sri Lanka.
The situation suggests a parallel scenario could unfold for the Champions Trophy. Rohit Juglan from RevSportz highlighted that the ICC has deferred the budget for the tournament, strongly indicating India’s probable reluctance to visit Pakistan. Consequently, the ICC may consider selecting a neutral venue for India’s matches in the upcoming tournament.
