New Zealand Cricket delegation in Pakistan to inspect venues ahead of tri-series and 2025 Champions Trophy: Report

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has reportedly sent a delegation to Pakistan to monitor the security arrangements ahead of an ODI tri-series that is scheduled to take place in the country next year. Pakistan will host the tri-series, also involving South Africa, in the build-up towards the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy that will be held in a hybrid model.

According to a report in news agency PTI, the New Zealand delegation that includes security expert Reg Dickason and New Zealand Players’ Association representative Brad Rodden, inspected venues in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore and discuss security arrangements before the tri-series get underway.

Another delegation, from the International Cricket Council (ICC), has also reached Pakistan to monitor the preparations ahead of the Champions Trophy. The ICC delegation inspected the National Stadium in Karachi before also inspecting the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. The delegations from NZC and ICC inspected the renovation that is taking place across the three venues, with the PCB having spent a whopping 12 billion rupees for the same.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, meanwhile, said that the construction work of all three stadiums would be completed before the deadline. He also promised state-level security for all the visiting teams.

Speculation on 2025 Champions Trophy ends 

The speculation over the 2025 Champions Trophy finally ended on Thursday after the ICC announced that the eight-team tournament would be held in a hybrid model. Questions had been raised over next year’s tournament after India refused to send their team to Pakistan citing security issues.

Explained | The hybrid model for Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC events, and why the PCB will be happy

Although Pakistan were initially reluctant to agree to a hybrid model, the PCB agreed to the model on the condition that the ICC implement the same in global tournaments held in India till 2027. The ICC confirmed this , saying that global tournaments taking place in India in the 2025-2027 cycle will also be held in a hybrid model, meaning that Pakistan won’t travel to India for their matches.

As per the draft schedule, the Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from 19 February to 9 March, but the ICC will officially announce the complete schedule soon. Apart from India and Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are the other teams who will compete in the Champions Trophy next year.