Vikrant Shekhawat : Nov 16, 2024, 07:40 PM
Champions Trophy 2025: There is tremendous enthusiasm among the fans about the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be played in Pakistan, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is making vigorous preparations to make it a success. However, a controversy arose recently regarding the trophy tour of the tournament, after which the ICC took a big decision.Controversy over trophy tourThe PCB had decided to take the trophy of the Champions Trophy to various places. The trophy was going to go to places like Skardu, Hunza, Murree and Muzaffarabad. Of these, Skardu, Hunza and Muzaffarabad fall in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which is a disputed area.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah strongly objected to the move and demanded immediate action from the ICC on this. After the controversy escalated, the ICC stopped the PCB from taking the trophy to PoK and announced a new schedule.ICC's new scheduleThe ICC made it clear that the trophy tour will no longer take place in any disputed area. Instead, the trophy will be taken to other cities in Pakistan and the seven countries participating in the tournament.Trophy schedule in Pakistan:November 16: IslamabadNovember 17: Taxila and KhanpurNovember 18: AbbottabadNovember 19: MurreeNovember 20: Nathia GaliNovember 22-25: KarachiTrophy tour in other countries:November 26-28: AfghanistanDecember 10-13: BangladeshDecember 15-22: South AfricaDecember 25-January 5: AustraliaJanuary 6-11: New ZealandJanuary 12-14: EnglandJanuary 15-26: IndiaTrophy will also come to IndiaThe Champions Trophy will tour India from January 15 to 26, 2025. The trophy will then be sent back to Pakistan, where the tournament is to be held.What is its significance?The controversy has also added a political and diplomatic aspect to the Champions Trophy 2025. This will be the first time that Pakistan will host an ICC tournament after 29 years. In such a situation, every preparation of PCB is being closely watched not only by cricket fans but also by the international community.This step of ICC and PCB ensures that no political controversy comes in the way of organizing the tournament. Now fans are eagerly waiting for the tournament to start.