The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received a major boost in its bid to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, with Afghanistan pledging its participation in the tournament. This assurance was given by Mirwais Ashraf, the president of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), and Naseeb Khan, the CEO, during the ICC Annual Board Meeting in Colombo.
The PCB has been working tirelessly to secure the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy, which will be the first major ICC event to be held in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. However, there were concerns that some countries might follow India’s lead if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send its team to Pakistan.
Khalid Mehmood, a former PCB chairman, had recently stated that if India didn’t send its team to Pakistan, one could expect teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to follow suit and insist on shifting the tournament to an alternative location.
However, the ACB officials’ assurances to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi have allayed those fears. Afghanistan’s participation in the Champions Trophy is a significant development, as it shows that the country is willing to support Pakistan’s efforts to host the tournament.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan during February and March 2025. It will be the first time that the tournament has been held in Pakistan since 2008.
