Bilal Ahmed 
(C)A sports,pcb firm on hosting champions trophy 2025 final in lahore regardless of indias participation
The current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair has remained very firm on this stand and he has declared that he will ensure that Lahore hosts the Champions Trophy final in 2025 no matter what the situation with India. This strategy is anticipated to be one of the talking points at the forthcoming ICC Board meeting set for October 18-21 in Dubai. But the PCB loves the idea and is ready internally for no show from India, such as moving the India matches to UAE if needed.
Readiness of PCB and their predictions
PCB is paying a lot of attention to stadium reconstruction in which about 7 billion Pak rupees are to be spent for reconstruction of Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore. Both PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and COO Salman Naseer will present detailed reports on these preparations to the ICC. The board is prepared for India not being present but very much desires Lahore to be the venue for the final, even if India reach the final.
The entire Champions Trophy is PCB’s first preference and preference on this issue. They rely on this, but the Board has its contingencies: It knows that the Indian government will not allow the team to tour Pakistan. The source said that even if India does not come to Pakistan the PCB wishes to have the final of the series in the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore.
Tournament Format and Venue Assignment
The PCB recommended that all the games should be conducted in Lahore while the organizing committee has planned to host seven games including the final. Karachi is to open its ground and host a semi-final match While Rawalpindi will have five matches starting from other semi–final match. Pakistan has been placed in Group A in the Champions Trophy alongside India, Bangladesh and New Zealand.
The Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where the final of only the 20-20 world cup in 1996 was conducted is also to increase number of seats for the spectators. Collectively, the PCB regards this as the single biggest stake in the growth of cricket facilities in this country and about the capacity of this country to host those international tournaments.
India’s role and possible alternatives
Currently the bilateral cricketing relations between these two countries are on hold since the attack on Mumbai in 2008. The BCCI may request the ICC to approve the tournament in a bio-secure bubble and some of its games to be moved to Sri Lanka or Dubai like the Asia Cup last year.
