ICC revises Champions Trophy tour venues after BCCI's objection

ICC announced a revised schedule for Champions Trophy's trophy tour on Saturday, November 16. India Today has learnt that the changes were made after objection from BCCI honourary secretary Jay Shah.

In Short

• Champions Trophy is set to be played in Pakistan
• ICC announced revised trophy tour
• Changes were made after objection from the BCCI

The International Cricket Council made late changes to their trophy tour ahead of the Champions Trophy. The ICC announced a revised schedule for the trophy tour after the Board of Control for Cricket in India objected to the trophy being paraded in Muzaffarabad, Skardu and the Hunza Calley.

India Today has learnt from reliable sources that BCCI honourary secretary Jay Shah, who is set to become the new ICC head objected to specific venues of the trophy tour which fall in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

On Saturday, the ICC announced its 'Global Trophy Tour' for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. The ICC stated that the tour will kick off in Islamabad.

Popular landmarks where the trophy will be displayed on the opening day of its tour in Islamabad are Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument where it will be accompanied by Pakistan cricket icon Shoaib Akhtar.

Key dates of the Trophy Tour

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

Champions Trophy in Limbo

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is under threat as a tense standoff between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raises doubts about the tournament's venue and viability. Awarded hosting rights for the prestigious event, Pakistan is standing firm on holding matches within its borders, while the BCCI remains adamant that India will not travel to Pakistan due to longstanding security and political concerns.

On Sunday, November 10, the PCB had confirmed it had received an email from the ICC notifying them that India officially declined to participate in Pakistan. India and Pakistan, whose cricketing relations have been strained since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, only meet in ICC tournaments and have avoided bilateral series for over a decade.

The PCB has made it clear that Pakistan is unwilling to adopt a "hybrid" model similar to the one used in the 2023 Asia Cup, where games were split between Pakistan and a neutral venue. Meanwhile, the BCCI has reiterated India’s position, emphasising that the team will not travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.