ICC Launches Trophy Tour for Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan

The ICC began the Global Trophy Tour for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday in Islamabad. The trophy will be passed around eight participating nations before it comes back to Pakistan, the host and the defending champion, on 27 January 2025. This is happening at a time when the relationship between Pakistan and India is not very stable, and more to it, India still discourages its citizens from visiting Pakistan.

Trophy Tour started from Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and Pakistan Monument in Islamabad in the presence of cricketing legend Shoaib Akthar. From there, the trophy will travel to other important cities of Karachi, Abbottabad, Taxila, and Murree before it will be taken to other countries. The ICC seeks to attract fans internationally and in this tour, a combination of hard and soft activities is planned.  

The PCB revealed other venues in the northern region, including Hunza and Skardu, but the ICC schedule only includes Murree. However, the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed it saying that the Pakistani team is now ready, enhancing the stadiums and security for the guest teams is now at the state guest level.  

Next, the tour will be taken to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England, and India to take the trophy round various countries. Anurag Dahiya, ICC’s Chief Commercial Officer said that the tour was a way of promoting the versatility of cricket and bringing fans all over the world together.  

However, political rivalry between India and Pakistan is a concern as well. Due to the BCCI not being willing to send a team to Pakistan and denying the options, that the PCB has suggested, the event is currently unsure. The two boards continue to show their strong stand and this may pose some problems to the ICC.  

Trophy Tour Dates and Locations  

– November 16, 2024: Islamabad, Pakistan  

– November 17, 2024: Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan  

– November 18, 2024: Abbottabad, Pakistan  

– November 19, 2024: Murree, Pakistan  

– November 20, 2024: Nathia Gali, Pakistan  

– November 22–25, 2024: Karachi, Pakistan  

– November 26–28, 2024: Afghanistan  

– December 10–13, 2024: Bangladesh  

– December 15–22, 2024: South Africa  

– December 25, 2024–January 5, 2025: Australia  

– January 6–11, 2025: New Zealand  

– January 12–14, 2025: England  

– January 15–26, 2025: India  

– January 27, 2025: Pakistan (Event Start)