While there are doubts over the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has insisted that he is not even considering the possibility of the tournament being moved out of the country. Pakistan has the hosting rights for next year’s Champions Trophy.
However, there are doubts over the tournament being held in Pakistan as the BCCI could once again decide not to send the Indian team across the border. Last year, Pakistan also had the hosting rights for the Asia Cup.
However, the tournament was played in a hybrid model after the BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan. Most of the matches were held in Sri Lanka, including the final, while Pakistan hosted only a few matches. Unsurprisingly, many believe that the Champions Trophy could also suffer the same fate next year, but Mohsin Naqvi is confident of hosting the tournament in Pakistan.
Mohsin Naqvi on Champions Trophy 2025:
Speaking to the media during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final on Monday (March 18), Mohsin Naqvi revealed that he held talks with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah last week.
“Yes, we spoke for a while and it was cordial, but it would be unwise to divulge details of what was discussed.” he said before adding: “I’m not even thinking in that sense: we are sure that we will host the Champions Trophy in Pakistan as planned.”
Mohsin Naqvi went on to say that preparations for the tournament are already underway. He stated that the three stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi would be renovated before hosting the Champions Trophy next year.
“As I speak, plans have been drawn up and work will soon begin on these three stadiums to give fans the best match-watching experience at the venues.” he said.
The Indian team has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, before bilateral relations between the two countries were suspended following the Mumbai terror attack. In the 2012/13 season, Pakistan visited India for a short limited overs series and the arch-rivals have not played any bilateral series against each other since then.
Meanwhile, the next Champions Trophy will mark the resumption of a competition that has not been contested since 2017. The last edition of the competition was held in England and was won by Pakistan.