In what comes as a big development, the ICC has reportedly expressed satisfaction over the detailed briefing of the arrangements provided by PCB officials for the ICC Champions Trophy. As per a report in Geo News, the PCB assured ICC that all the stadium upgrades were on track and would be completed in time for the showpiece event. The briefing was given in an ICC meeting where PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was also present.
Naqvi also invited ICC members to visit Pakistan to review the preparations for the gala event. While the official schedule of the Champions Trophy is not yet out, the tournament reportedly will be played from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as host venues.
The PCB is keen to host the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and it seems the country is well on track to stage the marquee event, however, the PCB and ICC are still sweating over India's participation in the tournament. India have not confirmed their visit to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and left the decision to the Indian govenment.
In the hope of convincing India to play their matches in Pakistan, the PCB reportedly assured support to the BCCI for the team's travel back to Delhi or Chandigarh after every match of the Champions Trophy. The BCCI though denied receiving any such proposal, also adding even if they get such a proposal, they would reject it. The BCCI's stubborn stance has left the fate of the tournament in jeopardy.
If there comes a situation where BCCI refuses to send the team to Pakistan and PCB does not agree to the tournament's hybrid model, India may pull out of the tournament, but it would be a massive setback to ICC, PCB and all participating boards given that India bring massive revenue and a tournament without India can't be a success financially.