ICC to Hold Virtual Meeting on November 29 to Decide 2025 Champions Trophy Hosting

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is scheduled to conduct a virtual meeting on Friday, November 29, to finalize the hosting arrangements for the 2025 Champions Trophy. A primary agenda of the meeting is to determine whether Pakistan will solely host the tournament or adopt a hybrid model by sharing hosting responsibilities with another country.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC Board aims to reach a consensus during this meeting before making an official announcement. The tournament is planned to take place between February 19 and March, although the ICC has not yet released the official schedule.

The impetus for this meeting stems from a recent written communication from the ICC to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), informing them that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in early 2025. In response, the PCB, after consulting with the Pakistan government, is preparing to present its stance during the discussions.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have long affected bilateral cricket relations. India has not toured Pakistan since participating in the Asia Cup in 2008, and their last bilateral series occurred during the 2012-13 season in India, consisting of white-ball matches. Currently, India and Pakistan primarily compete against each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.

India has consistently maintained its position of not traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing security concerns. Rajeev Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), recently reiterated that the Indian team would visit Pakistan only if the Indian government grants permission.

Last year’s Asia Cup saw Pakistan hosting the tournament through a hybrid model, where India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka while the remaining fixtures took place in Pakistan. This approach may influence the ICC’s decision regarding the hosting format for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

South Africa currently holds the fifth position in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points table and remains in contention for a maiden WTC Final spot, with four matches still to play, including two against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is positioned third in the points table, trailing only behind India and Australia.

The outcome of the ICC’s November 29 meeting is anticipated to provide clarity on the future of the Champions Trophy and potentially open avenues for improved cricketing relations between Pakistan and other nations under feasible conditions. The decision will be closely monitored by the global cricket community, given its significant implications for international cricket scheduling and the broader efforts to normalize relations between India and Pakistan through sport.