The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has put an end to the rumours about their potential decision not to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Scheduled for February to March 2025, the Champions Trophy is set to be hosted in Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will feature eight top cricketing nations: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa.
However, India’s participation remains uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeks government approval for the visit to the neighbouring country. Amidst this uncertainty, some reports suggested that Afghanistan might follow India’s lead and opt out of travelling to Pakistan.
ACB’s Assurance
In a recent meeting during the ICC’s annual conference in Colombo, ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf and CEO Naseeb Khan assured PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi of Afghanistan’s commitment to the tournament.
“Our team will indeed travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025,” they emphasized, dismissing the false reports and making it clear that Afghanistan’s stance is not influenced by India’s security concerns.
Though Afghanistan’s participation was never seriously in doubt, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan regarding the Champions Trophy have fueled much speculation. The ACB’s reassurance allowed the PCB to breathe a sigh of relief amidst the uncertainty.
A Landmark Event for Pakistan
If the Champions Trophy 2025 proceeds with all matches in Pakistan, it would mark a significant milestone for the country. Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996, co-hosting the Cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Since then, the nation’s cricketing landscape has faced numerous challenges, primarily due to security concerns that have limited international teams’ willingness to tour.
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