Cricket Fans Eagerly Await 2025 Champions Trophy as Venue Dispute Emerges

November 15, 2024 – ESPNcricinfo

The highly anticipated 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has hit a new roadblock, as a dispute between the BCCI and PCB over the trophy tour’s planned visit to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, has thrown the event’s logistics into disarray.

Just a day before the trophy tour was set to commence in Pakistan on November 16, the BCCI has objected to the PCB’s plans to include Muzaffarabad, a territory claimed by both India and Pakistan, as one of the tour’s destinations. This latest development adds to the growing uncertainty surrounding the tournament, which has already been marred by India’s reported refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event.

According to reports, the BCCI notified the ICC of its objection on Friday, a day after the PCB had announced the tour’s itinerary, which was set to include popular tourist destinations like Skardu, Murree, and Hunza, in addition to Muzaffarabad. The ICC is currently in discussions with both boards to finalize the trophy tour plan, and it remains unclear whether the tour will proceed as scheduled on November 16.

The PCB’s announcement caught the ICC by surprise, as the governing body typically handles the communication and logistics for its own events. The Pakistani board, however, remains steadfast in its stance, stating that it will not agree to a “hybrid model” that would allow India to play their matches outside of Pakistan.

As the dispute continues, Cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await a resolution that will ensure the smooth organization of the 2025 Champions Trophy, a highly anticipated event that has now been overshadowed by growing uncertainty and logistical challenges.

🔗 Source