Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed three venues in the “initial draft schedule” of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, ESPN Cricinfo reported a day earlier.
Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi have been selected by the cricket board as the venues for the event, which is scheduled for February.
The eight-team tournament is anticipated to span over two weeks, although the exact dates have not been confirmed yet. The PCB settled on the venues and the schedule following a visit from an ICC team to conduct inspections.
Contrary to the media speculations that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the mega event next year, the publication, quoting the initial draft, stated that the Men in Blue would play its matches in Pakistan.
Typically, after the host board submits the draft schedule, it goes through several revisions conducted by different teams within the ICC. The revised schedule is shared with the broadcaster and other boards for review before finalisation.
The next official ICC meeting is the global body’s annual conference in July.
It said the Pakistan board sent the initial draft after an ICC sent a team to conduct recces for the tournament. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the development during a news conference in Lahore on Sunday.
“The ICC’s security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we’ll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We’re continuously in touch with the ICC. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan.”
Also Naqvi admitted that the stadium renovation project has seen some delays but the work is going on smoothly and they will try to get it done in four to five months.
PCB Chairman also added that international companies will visit Pakistan on May 7 after which they will contact local consultants to finalise the designs of the stadium ahead of the mega event.
This event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy include Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
