ICC directs PCB to cancel Champions Trophy tour in PoK: Report

The Champions Trophy scheduled for next year in Pakistan is embroiled in daily twists and turns with fresh controversies emerging at every turnIn a new development on Friday India Today reported that the International Cricket Council ICC has opted to cancel the scheduled Champions Trophy tour to Skardu Murree and Muzaffarabadmdashregions situated in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoKThis move follows objections raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI regarding the proposed itinerary shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB Initially the PCB had announced a nationwide trophy tour scheduled from November 16 to 24The board took to X and unveiled that the Champions Trophy tour will kick off in Islamabad and will also see destinations like Skardu Murree Hunza and Muzaffarabad Catch a glimpse of the trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at The Oval from 1624 November PCB wrote on XGet ready PakistanThe 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 1624hellip pictwittercomSmsV5uyzlLmdash Pakistan Cricket TheRealPCB November 14 2024However in response to the BCCIrsquos concerns the ICC has decided to exclude the PoK regions from the tour This decision comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Indias participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy following the ICCs notification to the PCB that India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the tournament matchesMeanwhile earlier today the global cricket body officially asked for a written explanation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI over its decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for next years Champions Trophy reported Geo NewsAlso ReadPant clean bowled twice Kohli plays through painfree zone in match simulationThe development comes after BCCI verbally informed the ICC of its decision not to send the team to Pakistan for next years marquee eventIn response the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB requested the ICC to provide a copy of Indias response sources told Geo NewsIn case of receiving a written reply Pakistan may seek substantial evidence supporting the reasons sources told Geo News adding that the ICC would then have to take a final decision about India after reviewing those reasonsThe sources also informed Geo News that if India fails to provide proper reasons for not travelling to Pakistan then they would be asked to travel to the country to participate in the tournamentIn case India refuses to travel to Pakistan for any reason then another team may come in as a replacement for the mega event the sources further addedPakistan are the defending champions of the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy Amid the uncertainty over Indias participation and the tournament schedule PCB revealed that the trophy tour for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will kick off from Islamabad on November 16India has firmly opposed travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy citing security concernsEarlier this year BCCI vicepresident Rajeev Shukla stated that India would travel to Pakistan only if the Government of India permitted itLast year Pakistan hosted the Asian Trophy but it was held in a hybrid model with India playing its matches in Sri Lanka