Big blow for PCB as ICC puts budget for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on hold: Report

All eyes were on the recently-concluded ICC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo as many expected that there would be more clarity on the venue for next year's ICC Champions Trophy.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does have the hosting rights for the highly-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to conduct all the games in Pakistan. The main reason is India's reluctance to visit Pakistan due to security reasons.

The bilateral ties between the two cricket boards have been suspended for more than a decade now due to political reasons. It was expected that the PCB and the BCCI could find a solution during the AGM. However, no dialogue between the PCB and the BCCI took place during the meeting, even on the sidelines. As per reports, the matter was not on the agenda for the meeting and no discussion took place on it.

Champions Trophy budged on hold:

India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 while the last bilateral series between them took place way back in the 2012-13 season. Since then, the arch-rivals have faced each other only in ICC competitions and the Asia Cups. Pakistan did visit India in 2016 and 2023 but only for ICC tournaments.

On the other hand, India have maintained their stance of not visiting Pakistan since the suspension of the bilateral ties. India did not visit Pakistan last year even when the PCB had the hosting rights for the Asia Cup. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to come up with a hybrid model and India played all of their games in Sri Lanka.

And it looks highly likely that a similar model could be in place for the Champions Trophy as well. According to RevSportz's Rohit Juglan, the ICC has put the budget for the Champions Trophy on hold. It is a big indication that India are more than unlikely to visit Pakistan for the tournament next year and the ICC might have to pick a neutral venue for their games.

Champions Trophy budget on hold 👀- Sources

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) July 22, 2024