Pakistan delay finalizing their hosting contract for Champions Trophy 2025, highlight objections concerning India’s inclusion

As per reports from Cricket Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is delaying finalizing the hosting of the Champions Trophy in 2025. Issues pertaining to Team India’s involvement in the tournament were voiced by the PCB to the Apex Cricket Council for such delay.

The Apex Cricket Council Champions Tournament 2025 staging commitment was recently put on hold by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who presented some objections and concerns. The hosting rights agreement was presented to PCB just several days ago.

Furthermore, PCB queried regarding the consequences of these occurrences as well as how the losses would be compensated in such a case. Meanwhile, the Apex Cricket Council hasn’t yet responded to the PCB’s queries, the matter is expected to be addressed in the coming days.

In light of safety and security concerns, the Cricket Board of India previously denied sending an Indian team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023. Consequently, a hybrid format for the Asia Cup 2023 was finally settled on, whereby the matches will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the former hosting the first four games and the latter hosting the remaining nine. India will be playing their matches only in Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not entirely dependent on Apex Cricket Council revenue.

Greg Barclay, the chairman of the Apex Cricket Council, and Geoff Allardice, the CEO, visited Pakistan just recently to wrap up the hosting plans for the Champions Trophy in 2025. At that time, PCB emphasised its financial freedom by highlighting that they are able to make substantial earnings from leagues like the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and other events. The PCB indicated that they weren’t entirely depending on Apex Cricket Council revenue.