ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice confirms Champions Trophy 2025 will not be relocated from Pakistan

Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Geoff Allardice, has confirmed that there are no current plans to relocate the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from Pakistan which is scheduled to kickstart in February-March.

Pakistan is gearing up to host a major tournament, with key stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi undergoing significant construction. These venues are being upgraded to international standards to ensure the hostings of high-profile matches.

Addressing concerns about the venue during a media briefing in Dubai, organized for the Women’s T20 World Cup, Allardice assured that no teams have expressed reluctance to participate in the tournament.

Pakistan, the defending champion of the ICC Champions Trophy, won the title in 2017 under former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, defeating India in a dramatic final held in England. Allardice expressed satisfaction with Pakistan as the tournament's venue, noting that the ICC maintains regular visits to its member countries, including Pakistan, to ensure successful event hosting.

Despite past challenges, Allardice emphasized that all participating teams are committed to playing in Pakistan. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, often referred to as the "Mini World Cup," will feature eight elite teams: India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka and the West Indies will not compete in this edition.

In other news, the Women’s T20 World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, will now take place in Dubai and Sharjah due to political instability in Bangladesh. The tournament will begin on October 3, with the final set for October 20.