ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Controversy

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be the 9th edition of the Champions Trophy, a cricket tournament that will be contested by top eight ranked ODI men's national teams. It will be hosted by Pakistan & UAE from 19th February to 9th March 2025. Read below.

Pakistan was announced as the host by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It will be first global tournament that Pakistan will host since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan. The last major tournament to take place in the country was the 1996 Cricket World Cup which it co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.

Standoff b/w India & Pak

Reasons why India Won’t Travel To Pakistan

Player security is one of the primary reasons why Govt of India doesn't want Team India to go to Pakistan. Although Pak is expected to provide top notch security to Team India, but if they fail and some sort of hostage situation arises similar to the Munich Massacre of Israeli Atheletes, then Govt of India will have huge pressure and consequences to bear.

The recent Quetta blasts are great indication of the sorry state of security in the Failed state of Pakistan with freedom struggles going on in the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and POK. Pak's population is well known to be highly radicalized against India.

Another reason is the hosts Pakistan stands to gain huge revenue if Indian Cricket team travels to Pak. The GOI does not want Pakistan to gain such huge revenue by virtue of association. We all know how Pakistan was embarrassed when it safeguarded Osama Bin Laden in its home soil and US Navy SEALS conducted a operation and took him out.

Pakistan harbors UN-designated terrorists and supports proxy wars in India, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attacks and 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks. This has led to Pakistan being on the FATF Grey List and isolated globally.

Jay Shah Condemns PCB

Pakistan has planned a tour of the Champions Trophy through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This controversial plan, triggered a social media storm which led the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah condemned the PCB move, raising strong objections, and urged the ICC to take appropriate action against the seemingly political move. Later, The International Council of Cricket (ICC) has cancelled Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s trophy tour to POK leaving the PCB embarrassed at global stage.

Final Outcome on CT2025

Champions Trophy will be played in hybrid/fusion model. According to this agreement, India and Pakistan will play their ICC games at a neutral venue. Indian fixtures will take place in Dubai and if the Men in Blue qualify for the semis and finals, then it will take place at Dubai otherwise Lahore will host the clash. To make arrangements the PCB not get any additional compensation and they will not get ant additional revenue from ICC for the clashes taking place at a neutral venue. ICC also denied the PCB's suggestion of Tri-series against India.

CT 2025 Full Schedule & Squads

Read More

Sources: Wikipedia, News18, Indian Express.

Image credits: PCB.