After BCCI snub, PCB to conduct Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

The cold war between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the venue of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy continued to snowball as the latter announced a trophy tour across various places in Pakistan including the PoK on Friday.

In what may seem as a dig at India following BCCI's refusal to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 scheduled to be held in Pakistan, the PCB has decided to conduct a 'trophy tour' ahead of the competition in multiple destinations in the country - which include areas that are part of PoK.

In a post on social media platform X, the PCB said, "Get ready, Pakistan! The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamabad on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarabad. Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval, from 16-24 November."

Incidentally, Skardu, Hunza and Muzaffarabad, are all part of the much-disputed PoK, which India has time and again asserted to be its own.

Things escalated when the PCB on November 10 confirmed that India had informed the International Cricket Council about its unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled in February-March next year.

"The PCB has received an e-mail from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025," PCB said in a statement.

Adding more drama to the fiasco, Pakistan on Thursday said that no back channel diplomacy was going on with India after the BCCI refused to send its cricket team for the Champions Trophy.

“There is no back channel with India to specifically discuss the Champions Trophy and bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India,” said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, the ICC continued discussions on the Champions Trophy schedule with participating nations amid speculations that the entire tournament could be moved out of Pakistan.

A chatter emerged that South Africa could be a viable alternative to organise the competition. However, no such official discussions have happened in the ICC as of now.

(With PTI inputs)