In 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent a proposal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the Champions Trophy venues according to the shortlist. The venues are Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
PCB plans to finalize the venues more thoroughly around mid-February for the tournament. This marks the first ICC event to be hosted by Pakistan in 30 years.
It is assumed that this tournament will run for two weeks with eight teams. However, the tournament start date hasn’t been confirmed yet. PCB has finalized the venues and the list after sending an inspection team to the venues.
During a press conference in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, “We have sent the list to the ICC after finalizing it. A security team from ICC visited and had fruitful discussions with us. They have observed everything here, and we have also discussed stadium improvements with them. We maintain constant communication with the ICC. We have assured them of a successful tournament in Pakistan.”
Recently, India has shown disinterest in playing the Champions Trophy on Pakistani soil. Earlier, in the Asia Cup, Pakistan did not play any matches on their soil. India played their matches against Sri Lanka in the hybrid model.
So, discussions about India’s participation in the preliminary shortlist will now include the possibility of India’s involvement in Pakistan. ESPNcricinfo has reported that all matches in the preliminary shortlist, including India, will be held in Pakistan.
Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996, as a joint host with India and Sri Lanka for the World Cup. In 2009, a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan led to no team touring the country until 2015. Despite being the host of the Champions Trophy in 2008, it was canceled. South Africa eventually hosted it in 2009.
In 2011, although being a joint host with India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh for the World Cup, Pakistan couldn’t host any matches as participating teams objected to playing in Pakistan.
