The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is determined to host all the Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Pakistan.
According to Geo News, the PCB will officially present this plan at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) annual meeting in Colombo, which takes place from July 19 to 22.
The PCB’s firm decision comes after reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reluctant to send the Indian team to Pakistan because of political tensions and security concerns. The BCCI might prefer to have India’s matches at a neutral location.
Despite these challenges, the PCB is gearing up to host all eight participating teams in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, with plans to hold India’s matches specifically in Lahore.
To ensure the event’s success, the PCB has set aside Rs12.80 billion for improvements to three major stadiums: Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium.
The PCB points out that all teams except India have played in Pakistan before, and they believe there’s no valid reason for India to decline.
If India refuses to come for the Champions Trophy, the PCB has warned it might not participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
The Champions Trophy is making a comeback after eight years, running from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan won the last event in 2017.
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