A dramatic twist in the lead-up to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has left the tournament’s trophy tour in limbo because of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), just a day before it was set to begin in Pakistan.
The BCCI has raised objections to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plan to include Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as one of the tour’s stops. This region remains a longstanding point of contention between India and Pakistan.
The controversy erupted after the PCB announced its trophy tour schedule on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, listing Muzaffarabad among other destinations such as Skardu, Murree, and Hunza. While the PCB touted these locations as symbols of Pakistan’s rich heritage and scenic beauty, the BCCI lodged its objection with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday, just a day after the announcement.
Sources close to the matter told ESPNcricinfo that the BCCI’s objection caught the ICC off guard, as all official communication regarding ICC events typically originates from the global governing body itself. It remains unclear whether the objection was made formally in writing or verbally. For now, the ICC is reportedly in discussions about how to proceed.
The objection by BCCI regarding the Champions Trophy tour comes off as another attempt by the Indian board to pressure the ICC over the staging of the competition.
Originally scheduled to kick off on November 16, the tour’s status is now shrouded in uncertainty. While a phased approach—starting with visits to the tournament venues of Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi before venturing to other planned stops—has been floated, no decision has been finalized. This hiccup adds another layer of tension to a tournament already mired in controversy.
Last week, the BCCI informed the ICC that the Indian government had denied clearance for its team to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
This prompted the ICC to relay the development to the PCB, which has firmly rejected the BCCI’s preferred hybrid model, under which India’s matches would be hosted at a neutral venue. Despite dialogue between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and ICC leadership, the PCB remains adamant about receiving formal responses to its queries.
As the clock ticks, all eyes are on the ICC to navigate the rocky terrain and salvage the tournament’s plans, which are fast becoming as contentious off the field as they promise to be on it.