Champions Trophy: No PoK cities on ICC's trophy tour route, stopover in India in Jan 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will halt in seven Pakistan cities for the Champions Trophy tour as reported on Saturday (Nov 16) with Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) dropped. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reluctant to travel to Pakistan, ICC decided to pull the trigger on the trophy tour. The trophy tour will also have a stoppage in India in January 2025 before returning to Pakistan for the final tournament in February.

CT trophy to tour in seven cities

The trophy will now visit Taxila, Khanpur, Abbottabad, Murree, Nathia Gali, and Karachi, following its launch in Islamabad on Friday, an ICC itinerary confirmed. According to the ICC, the prestigious silverware will journey across the eight participating nations during its 70-day global tour, providing unique experiences for fans. Interestingly, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announcing they were to tour PoK, the event was later cancelled as ICC intervened.

With towns in Pok dropped after India's BCCI raised objections, the updated schedule of the Champions Trophy tour announced:

16 November: Islamabad
17 Nov: Taxila & Khanpur
18 Nov: Abbottabad
19 Nov: Murree
20 Nov: Nathia Gali
22-25 Nov: Karachi https://t.co/Z94ygKQgik — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 16, 2024

"We are delighted to launch the Trophy Tour ahead of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, where another action-packed programme of activity is available to fans across the world. The silverware, which will be showcased across all participating nations, will allow the sport's passionate fanbase to enjoy the unforgettable experience of being up close with the iconic trophy," Anurag Dahiya, ICC's chief commercial officer, said.

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Champions Trophy to be held in hybrid model?

As things stand, with less than three months to go for the Champions Trophy to start Pakistan is not yet confident of hosting the entire tournament with the Indian team reluctant to travel. Pakistan’s proposal to host India’s matches including the final has been rejected by the BCCI, leaving ICC with three options.

Like 2008, the Champions Trophy could be postponed until a solution is met as the ICC could explore the idea. On the other hand, India’s reluctance to travel could force them out of the tournament if they are forfeited. However, that option looks unlikely due to India’s brand value in cricket and Jay Shah set to become the chairperson of the board of directors of ICC.

The hybrid model remains the best option and likely option to host the Champions Trophy with India’s matches to take place outside Pakistan while the rest of the seven teams play in the nation.