The International Cricket Council (ICC) has shunned the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from the Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour. This comes in the wake of the BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s strong objection to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal to take the trophy to Gilgit-Baltistan and other regions in PoK.
On Saturday, the ICC confirmed the dates and places of the trophy tour on its website, confirming that it will start in Islamabad. “After Islamabad, the tour will head to iconic cities and venues in Pakistan such as Karachi, Abbottabad, and Taxila before leaving the land of defending champions to embark on an extensive international tour, where it will continue to showcase the vibrant cultures evident across competing nations,” said the ICC release.
The trophy will journey across eight participating nations during the tour.
Two days ago, the PCB put out a post on X (formerly Twitter), giving details of the trophy tour and incorporating regions in PoK into it. “Get ready, Pakistan! The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24 November.”
The PCB got ahead of themselves, as a source close to the ICC confirmed to RevSportz that the trophy tour wasn’t finalised yet. Following the PCB announcement, the BCCI strongly objected to the inclusion of the controversially-claimed PoK in the trophy tour. The Indian cricket board, however, made it clear that it has no problem if the tour is conducted in any other city in Pakistan.
The BCCI has already refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy that will be played in February-March next year. In its communication to the ICC, the BCCI has mentioned that it hasn’t got the approval from the Indian government. Security reasons have also been cited.
Meanwhile, as per the ICC itinerary, the silverware would be showcased in India from January 15-26.