South Africa not considered as Champions Trophy 2025 host amid BCCI-PCB security dispute: Report

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy being held in South Africa is mere speculation at this time as the International Cricket Council (ICC) as of Tuesday has not discussed the option. The reports that Champions Trophy 2025 could be moved from Pakistan to South Africa after India's refusal to visit their neighbours was doing the rounds on Tuesday but an ICC insider has informed the news agency PTI that the global cricket body has initiated no such talks.

ICC in talk with all participating teams of Champions Trophy

The ICC, however, is currently in discussion with all participating teams after the scheduled announcement for the Champions Trophy was postponed. The ICC had planned to host an event on 11 November in Lahore to announce the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule but that has been delayed now as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not willing to send its team to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), meanwhile, has taken a tough stand and is not ready to cede ground as they did during the Asia Cup 2023. The Asia Cup was to be originally hosted in Pakistan but India’s matches and the final was held in Sri Lanka as per a ‘Hybrid Model’ as Team India refused to travel to Pakistan. The PCB is now determined to host the entire Champions Trophy being the original hosts.

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The PTI report says that Pakistan is not interested in hosting the tournament outside the country, even if it’s in the UAE. They have also asked for written confirmation from BCCI about their security issues for not coming to Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board has informed the ICC that the best security arrangements will be made for the Champions Trophy, and they currently also host England and New Zealand.

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South Africa not in discussion to host Champions Trophy

Meanwhile, ICC has still not shown any interest in looking at South Africa as the potential host for the entire 2025 Champions Trophy. They are currently in discussion with all participating teams to finalise the schedule.

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The last the Indian cricket team was in Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue have not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and they now only face each other in ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments.

Pakistan will host the Asia Cup in India next year, and they plan to visit their neighbours for the same. They also travelled to India in 2023 for the ODI World Cup.