Pakistan were given the hosting rights of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held in an ODI format. It is a cricket tournament featuring the top eight ranked men’s national teams in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
The teams qualified for 2025 edition of Champions Trophy are Pakistan (host), Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and South Africa.
ICC is looking forward to conduct the international tournament in a hybrid-manner or in a different country, after India pull out of playing in Pakistan, due to non-existence of good relations for a long time.
According to various reports, a bomb blast happened at the railway station in Quetta, Pakistan. As per the data, around 25 people have been killed in the bomb blast, including 14 soldiers. Apart from them, around 45 people have been injured and undergoing treatment at the civil hospital. This situation will spark more tensions between the cricket federations.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it received guidance from the Government of India (GOI) advising against sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. This recommendation is based on security concerns and diplomatic considerations, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Resulting to this, ICC may think to either conduct the tournament in a hybrid mode, by keeping India’s matches out of Pakistan, or could nominate another country for hosting rights of Champions Trophy 2025. According to sources, PCB wrote to the ICC about hosting the full tournament in Pakistan and declining the proposal of hybrid model.
As of now, South Africa may host the 2025 Champions Trophy if Pakistan declines the proposed hybrid model.
The recent blast in Pakistan has raised more concerns about safety for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This incident has added to the ongoing rumors about moving the tournament to a different country for security reasons. The ICC may now feel more pressure to find a safer location or consider a hybrid model to keep the event secure for players, staff, and fans. As a result, the idea of hosting the tournament elsewhere might become a stronger possibility.
