 "The ICC has indicated that Pakistan will be hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy. Image: ICC")
The to-and-fro continues as far as the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy schedule is concerned but the International Cricket Council (ICC) has tacitly confirmed that the tournament will take place in Pakistan. Earlier last week the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as expected informed the ICC that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy which is to take place in February-March 2025 but the explosive development has led to a massive controversy.
PCB vs BCCI spat
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unlike the last time has decided against ceding ground and hosting the tournament in a Hybrid Model which was used during the Asia Cup 2023 when India played their matches in Sri Lanka including the final. The PCB has asked ICC to take a written note from BCCI on why they are not willing to travel to Pakistan. The BCCI has raised security issues but Pakistan is claiming that the best arrangements will be made and they have proven themselves to be capable hosts by recently hosting New Zealand and England cricket teams.
It has also been reported that the Pakistan government has asked the PCB not to accept a Hybrid Model and if the Champions Trophy is moved out of Pakistan then the Men in Green could even boycott the tournament . There have been reports that the Champions Trophy could be hosted in South Africa but ICC insiders have debunked those reports .
Amid all the drama, the ICC has launched a new visual identity for the men’s and women’s Champions Trophy. The ICC also launched a video on Wednesday (13 November) to announce the changes and one of the slides on the video clearly says that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be hosted in Pakistan.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsICC launches refreshed visual identity for Champions Trophy
“The unmissable Champions Trophy sees the top teams in the world come together for a thrilling two-week competition where every match counts. The men’s event will return for the first time since 2017, whilst there is a brand-new women’s version in the T20 format, as the world’s best players will compete for the Champions Trophy white jackets,” the ICC press release said.
Also Read | Pakistan could lose millions of dollars if Champions Trophy 2025 is moved out of the country
“A battle for the iconic white jackets will occur every two years as an alternating men’s ODI event featuring the top eight teams and then entering a new era, the top six women’s T20 teams will compete in an intense and all-out showdown where we will witness each team write history.
“The newly created visual identity is a digital-first vibrant expression, deliberately challenging the status quo, with an unconventional typographic logo which sets the tone for the look – bold and loud, confident and fun.
“It has been designed to be agile, distinctive, and expressive, it’s inspired by the language of cricket; from the unique and integral words that describe the game, to the shouts when a wicket falls, to the name of each superstar that appears on the back of their kit. Both the verbal and written words are an integral part of the sport and that is celebrated through the brand.”