Champions Trophy: ICC removes tour destinations as India objects

LAHORE: Sources revealed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) removed three destinations from the Champions Trophy tour including Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad on Saturday after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) objected to the aforementioned destinations.

Cricbuzz reported that the current BCCI secretary and soon to be ICC Chair, Jay Shah, expressed disapproval over the trophy’s destinations, specifically Muzaffarabad.

The ICC has now stated that after the trophy is shown in Pakistan on November 16, where it will be displayed at Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument, it will then head to venues in Karachi, Abbottabad, and Taxila.

Previously, it was reported that the trophy for the upcoming tournament would be taken on a tour throughout Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted on X and Instagram that “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 that Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24 November.”

Champions Trophy to reach Islamabad November 16

Sources revealed that PCB did not decide on the trophy’s tour schedule themselves, but rather worked in collaboration with the ICC, as well as their commercial partners, to determine the destinations. The PCB is reportedly in discussions with the ICC ensure the trophy tour can proceed without issue.

The trophy tour begins today, November 16, in Islamabad, and will end on November 24.  

The schedule is as follows:

• 16 November – Islamabad, Pakistan
• 17 November – Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan
• 18 November – Abbottabad, Pakistan
• 19 November- Murree, Pakistan
• 20 November- Nathia Gali, Pakistan
• 22 – 25 November – Karachi, Pakistan
• 26 – 28 November – Afghanistan
• 10 – 13 December – Bangladesh
• 15 – 22 December – South Africa
• 25 December – 5 January – Australia
• 6 – 11 January – New Zealand
• 12 – 14 January – England
• 15 – 26 January – India
• 27 January – event start – Pakistan

INDIA’S TRAVEL

Meanwhile, the ICC have requested written reasons from the BCCI on why the Indian team is unable to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

If deemed invalid, the ICC will urge the Indian team to participate as their exclusion would likely cost the ICC around $500 million and the BCCI around $100 million, sources stated. If they are unable to compete, they will be replaced by a ninth team, which is likely to be Sri Lanka.

Champions Trophy: ICC demands written explanation from India