Champions Trophy: PCB proposes centralised venue approach for India's qualifying matches

Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam (Pic: AFP)

Pakistan cricket authorities have suggested the International Cricket Council to schedule India's qualifying round matches only in one city during the Champions Trophy next year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, slated to host the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy in 2025, has picked three cities in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, which also gets the final, as venues to organise the tournament.

"The ICC general manager Wasim Khan also recently visited Lahore where he discussed the Champions Trophy arrangements with the PCB top brass and it was suggested that the Indian team's travel itinerary be kept to a minimum," a PCB source informed.

The source added that India could play its initial qualifying round games at Karachi before proceeding to the venues for the knockouts.

Also Read: PCB finalises venues for the mega event

With their cricket engagements restricted only to ICC tournaments, the Indian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the Indian cricket board did not send the national team for the Asia Cup which was eventually held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has maintained that all teams would play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan as per schedule. He also informed that stadium renovation work would commence soon, with the tournament expected to be held in February-March 2025.

The last season of the Champions Trophy was held in the year 2017 in England and is expected to come into action in February-March next year.

If the 'Men in Blue' does not get clearance from the government, the ICC could use the hybrid model to ensure their participation. The ICC has already made it clear that it will not ask any member nation to defy government policy.

"We've sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy," PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was quoted as saying at a press conference in Lahore. "The ICC's security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we'll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan," Naqvi informed.

(With inputs from agencies)