Pakistan poised to defend Champions Trophy in their own backyard

Pakistan will be hosting ICC event for first time after 1996

Pakistan will be the official host for the Champions Trophy 2025, ICC announced on Tuesday.

It will be the first time since 1996 that any ICC event will be staged in Pakistan as the country has been deprived of international cricket due to the unfortunate incident of 2009 wherein the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore.

The other major highlights of the ICC’s announcement include USA being made co-hosts of the 2024 T20 World Cup and Namibia being the co-hosts of 2027 ODI World Cup.

Two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, and two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy tournaments will be hosted by eleven full members and three associate members.

A board sub-committee led by Martin Snedden, comprising Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt, picked the hosts through a competitive bidding procedure. The ICC Board of Directors adopted the recommendations of the committee, which worked with ICC management to perform a thorough assessment of each offer. Early next year, a similar method will be used to pick the hosts for the ICC Women’s and U19s competitions for the next cycle.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja has thanked the International Cricket Council for awarding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to Pakistan, saying the event will showcase Pakistan’s passion for the sport.

“I am happy that the International Cricket Council has chosen Pakistan to host one of their premier events,” PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said. The ICC has exhibited entire trust and faith in Pakistan’s management and operational capabilities and expertise by giving a major global event to the country.

“Through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, we will once again display our enthusiasm and love for the sport, as this event will be beneficial to the millions of home fans who will be able to watch world-class teams and their favourite international players up close and personal,” said Raja.

He said, “Not only will we strive to design and execute a world-class event, but we will also prepare and field a strong and fearsome team capable of performing and entertaining our home fans.”

“We watched how the nation came together during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home will be another opportunity to cement that link as we defend the championship,” Raja added.

Hosts of Champions Trophy

Pakistan — 2025

India — 2029

Hosts of T20 World Cup

United States and West Indies — 2024

India and Sri Lanka — 2026

Australia and New Zealand — 2028

England, Ireland, Scotland — 2030

Hosts of 50-over World Cup

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia — 2027

India and Bangladesh — 2031