The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy during its annual meeting held in Colombo, as reported by Geo News on Monday. The approval came on the concluding day of the meeting, marking a significant step forward for the tournament, which will be hosted by Pakistan.
The budget, meticulously prepared by ICC Chief Finance Officer Ankur Khanna and PCB Chief Finance Officer Javed Murtaza, received the green light, paving the way for further preparations. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was present at the meeting, reinforcing the PCB’s commitment to hosting the entire event within Pakistan.
Despite swirling rumors suggesting a possible “plan B” involving neutral venues due to the Indian cricket team’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan, the PCB remains resolute. They assert that since the tournament is to be hosted by Pakistan, all matches should be held on Pakistani soil. The ICC meeting, which took place from July 19 to 22, provided the PCB with a platform to emphasize their stance.
The PCB has earmarked three venues for the tournament: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. According to the proposed schedule submitted to the ICC, all matches involving India are set to take place in Lahore. This decision underscores the PCB’s determination to host the event domestically, despite potential logistical challenges.
To ensure the venues are in top condition, the PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for upgrading Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium. This investment aims to elevate the facilities to international standards ahead of the prestigious event.
While the Indian team has yet to confirm their participation in Pakistan, the PCB highlights that the other seven teams slated to compete have previously played in the country, bolstering their argument that India lacks a substantial reason to abstain from traveling.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, marking the return of the tournament after an eight-year hiatus. The last edition of the Champions Trophy was held in 2017, where Pakistan triumphed over India in a thrilling final.
As the cricketing world anticipates the upcoming Champions Trophy, all eyes are on Pakistan’s preparations and the ICC’s final decision on the tournament’s venues. The PCB’s unwavering stance promises an exciting lead-up to one of cricket’s most prestigious events.
