ICC Champions Trophy 2025: A tournament to celebrate, a test to pass

The last time Pakistan hosted an International Cricket Council (ICC) event, the internet was virtually unheard of, social media and smartphones did not exist, and Babar Azam was just two years old. It has been that long, indeed! 

When Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga lifted the World Cup trophy to rapturous applause at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 17, 1996, few could have imagined it would take Pakistan nearly 30 years to host another major cricket tournament. 

While Pakistan was initially announced as a co-host for the 2011 World Cup alongside India and Sri Lanka, it was stripped of the opportunity by the ICC following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. That incident had a lasting impact on cricket in the country. With international teams unwilling to travel, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to make significant efforts to keep the game alive. 

For more than five years, Pakistan shifted its base to the United Arab Emirates for international fixtures before gradually inviting teams back for bilateral series. Although India continues to refuse to send its team across the border, the PCB successfully hosted one leg of the 2023 Asia Cup at home, gaining some confidence from other nations. 

However, the Champions Trophy will be its biggest litmus test yet. 

Three years ago, when Pakistan was awarded the tournament, Ramiz Raja was chairman of the PCB. He believes this will boost the country’s confidence. “When you host a tournament after 29 years, it is a big deal. It builds your confidence and boosts the psyche of the fans and the public that there’s lots to look forward to,” Ramiz told  Sportstar. “There is an air of happiness among the fans, and there’s a lot to look forward to. However, it entails huge security provisions to ensure the tournament goes smoothly…” 

Although Pakistan will play India at a neutral venue in Dubai, the country will host a significant portion of the tournament — including the semifinal and final (unless India qualifies for the latter) — across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. 

The PCB has faced major challenges in preparing the venues within just over 100 days, despite investing approximately PKR 12 billion in renovations. While the grounds were in reasonable shape, last-minute renovation work at Gaddafi Stadium and the National Stadium continued until the deadline, with more than 250 workers toiling day and night to complete the project. 

The PCB ultimately unveiled the renovated Gaddafi Stadium during a tri-series involving Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa. “It was a challenging project because many doubted it would be completed,” said Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman. “Everyone will be remembered because it was due to your untiring effort and the help of God Almighty that this project is completed,” he said as the stadium was officially reopened. 

While the PCB is confident of hosting a successful event, questions remain about whether the tournament will capture enough interest in Pakistan, given that the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash will be played elsewhere. 

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi addresses a presser at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

Ehsan Mani, a former ICC chairman and former chief of the PCB, has expressed disappointment with how the global body handled the situation. He believes the ICC should have engaged with representatives from the BCCI and PCB much earlier rather than leaving it until the last minute. 

“When the tournament was awarded three years ago, and the political situation between the two countries remained tense, it was important for the ICC to plan things better and come up with a solution much earlier,” Mani told this publication. With the event split into two legs, teams are also concerned about the extensive travel involved. As one administrator pointed out, “It would certainly be a challenge for the teams to crisscross from one country to another and then play back-to-back games.” 

Ramiz, however, does not see this as a significant issue. Drawing on his experience from the 1989 Nehru Cup, he recalled, “I remember travelling several thousand kilometres (six cities) in about 10 days during the tournament, and even then, we went on to win. Only three venues will be hosting matches this time, so travel won’t be excessive. Dubai is just a couple of hours away, and teams are used to such journeys. So, it should not matter much…” 

The ICC has scrapped its usual pre-tournament captains’ photoshoot and mandatory press conference to minimise travel disruptions.

Another notable aspect is the absence of Indian officials from the list of 12 umpires and match referees appointed by the ICC. Javagal Srinath, the only Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and Nitin Menon, India’s sole representative in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, have opted out, citing ‘personal reasons’. 

Despite the event’s global status, Indian fans are still unlikely to be permitted to travel to Pakistan for matches, similar to the 2023 ODI World Cup, when Pakistani fans were denied visas. However, in a positive development, some Indian journalists have now been granted visas to cover the tournament in Pakistan. This marks a shift from the 2023 World Cup, where even Pakistani media representatives faced prolonged deliberations before receiving limited visas.

Local reports suggest ticket sales for Pakistan’s home matches have been strong, with seats for the marquee India-Pakistan clash already sold out. 

Until recently, doubts loomed over whether the tournament would proceed in Pakistan. But Mani remembers a time when the late Jagmohan Dalmiya led a Pakistan-India-Sri Lanka Organising Committee (PILCOM) to organise the 1996 World Cup in the subcontinent. 

Pakistan dominated arch-rival India with a stunning 2017 Champions Trophy victory at The Oval, fuelled by Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant century.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS

“We worked as a team. We spoke regularly and ensured that things went ahead smoothly. We all had a common goal:  cricket hoga, and it will be a success for Asia. Mr Dalmiya, Mr I.S. Bindra, myself, and others regularly interacted to ensure we got the tournament in shape, Mani said. 

Ramiz believes the event will be crucial in changing perceptions about Pakistan, which enters the tournament as the defending champion. 

“When you grab those centre spreads in the newspaper regularly for all the right cricketing reasons and become the centre of attraction, it not only fulfils your expectations but also allows you to dream ahead…” Ramiz said.

Mani, however, believes that frequent visits by top teams have already helped to create a positive image of Pakistan. “During my time at the PCB, from 2018 to 2021, we ensured that teams started travelling to Pakistan. Over the last few years, image-building has been done successfully, as a result of which top teams are coming in. During my time, I never heard visiting teams complain about security. They would often tell us to relax things a bit so that players could step out and enjoy themselves,” Mani said, adding: “With security taken care of, teams are now comfortable travelling to the country, and hopefully, the Champions Trophy will only make things better…” 

After three decades of waiting, Pakistan’s fans finally have something to celebrate.