 "Champions Trophy 2025 tour will begin on 16 November in Pakistan. Image: Reuters")
After strong objections from India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (secretary) Jay Shah, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have dropped Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) cities from the trophy tour for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. On Thursday, the PCB announced that the trophy tour will be taking place in Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad , all of which fall in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a region illegally occupied by Pakistan in 1947 after the Partition.
However, after the BCCI strongly objected to the schedule, which was seen as a provocation technique, the ICC on Saturday released the official trophy tour schedule with necessary changes that did not include the cities from PoK.
ICC announces altered trophy tour plan
The trophy tour for the 2025 Champions Trophy will kick off on 16 November in Islamabad before going through Taxila and Khanpur, Abbottabad, Murree, Nathia Gali, and Karachi in Pakistan. The trophy tour in Pakistan will end in Karachi on 25 November before leaving for Afghanistan followed by Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England, and India – all eight nations that will take part in the tournament.
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“We are delighted to launch the Trophy Tour with DP World ahead of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where another action-packed programme of activity is available to fans across the world,” Anurag Dahiya, ICC Chief Commercial Officer, said.
“The silverware, which will be showcased across all participating nations, will allow the sport’s passionate fanbase to enjoy the unforgettable experience of being up close with the iconic trophy,” Dahiya said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDates of the 2025 Champions Trophy Tour:
16 November – Islamabad, Pakistan
17 November - Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan
18 November – Abbottabad, Pakistan
19 November- Murree, Pakistan
20 November- Nathia Gali, Pakistan
22 - 25 November – Karachi, Pakistan
26 – 28 November – Afghanistan
10 – 13 December – Bangladesh
15 – 22 December – South Africa
25 December – 5 January – Australia
6 – 11 January – New Zealand
12 – 14 January – England
15 – 26 January – India
27 January – event start – Pakistan
While the changes to the trophy schedule are as expected, a recent report has stated that both PCB and ICC deserve the blame for a plan that provoked India.
As per a PCB source who spoke to the Indian Express, the trophy schedule that included PoK cities was created after consultation with the ICC.
“The ICC Champions Trophy tour was planned in consultation and with the approval of the ICC. The PCB had not unilaterally finalised the trophy tour schedule,” the source revealed .
By changing the schedule at the last minute, the ICC has certainly managed to avoid a major political crisis.