New Delhi: After a strong objection from the Board of Control for India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) regions from the Champions Trophy tour itinerary, as per a report in The Indian Express. After the Champions Trophy reached the host country Pakistan from Dubai a few days back for nationwide tour, the PCB announced a lit of cities they would be travelling to with the trophy.
It was announced in a social media post that the tour will begin on November 16 from Islamabad and also visit scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad which are the PoK regions. On Thursday, the PCB, in a post on X, said: “Get ready, Pakistan! The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24 November.”
Jay Shah objects
It is being learnt that BCCI secretary Jay Shah lodged a protest with the ICC following which the apex cricket body asked PCB to drop the Pok regions from the tour schedule. The PCB has now agreed to restrict the tour of the Champions Trophy to three host cities of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The report further mentions that a top BCCI official said that Jay Shah, who is set to take over as ICC Chairman on December 1, told the ICC it was unacceptable that the PCB was planning a trophy tour in PoK. The Champions Trophy 2025 has been in the news since few months after India’s refusal to travel to the neighbouring nation.
As per the latest details, the ICC is trying to convince the PCB for a hybrid model, just like the Asia Cup 2023 while Pakistan is strict on hosting the entire event in the country. The top eight teams of the world will take part in next year’s 50-overs Champions Trophy that will run from February 19 to March 9 with Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi as host cities.
After a strong objection from the Board of Control for India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) regions from the Champions Trophy tour itinerary Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
