Champions Trophy 2025: PCB gets additional funds from ICC for India-Pakistan venue issues

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken bold measures to address potential venue concerns for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, particularly regarding matches involving India and Pakistan. The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in early 2025. However, the participation of the Indian cricket team in Pakistan remains uncertain due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has consistently maintained that any decision to play in Pakistan is subject to government approval. In the recently concluded meeting in Colombo, the apex cricketing council approved the budget for the Champions Trophy 2025, which now includes supplementary expenses to accommodate scenarios where the Indian team might need to play outside Pakistan.

This financial provision demonstrates the ICC's commitment to finding flexible solutions to ensure the tournament's success. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delegated the responsibility of securing India's participation to the ICC.

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According to Zee News, the PCB has submitted all necessary details in its expression of interest document to the ICC, including a draft schedule that places all of India's matches, including potential semi-finals and finals, in Lahore. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match of the tournament is reportedly set for March 1. This situation is exactly like the Asia Cup 2023, where a “Hybrid Model” was implemented, allowing India to play its matches in Sri Lanka while Pakistan hosted the remainder of the tournament. 

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The PCB, under the leadership of Mohsin Naqvi, has not engaged in formal discussions with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah or other officials regarding India's participation. Instead, the PCB has given the responsibility to the ICC with the task of finalizing and announcing the tournament schedule, as well as securing confirmation from the BCCI about India's involvement.