“Unnecessary Sensationalism” – PCB Trashes Reports Claiming That 2025 Champions Trophy Might Be Rescheduled

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly dismissed recent reports suggesting that the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, might face rescheduling. The PCB criticized such claims, labeling them as “unnecessary sensationalism” and clarifying that the tournament’s schedule remains unchanged.

Pakistan is set to host the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy from February to March next year. However, concerns arose after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi mentioned during a media interaction that some domestic matches might need to be relocated to facilitate uninterrupted construction work. This led to speculation that the Champions Trophy might also be affected.

In response, the PCB issued a statement to quash these rumors, stating:

“It is disappointing that certain media outlets have misrepresented PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi’s comments from yesterday’s media interaction, misleadingly quoting him on the possibility of a change of dates for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to security concerns, thus creating unnecessary sensationalism.”

The statement emphasized that while some domestic matches could be relocated due to ongoing construction, this does not apply to the Champions Trophy, which remains a top priority for the PCB as a premier eight-team international event. The board confirmed that they have already submitted a draft schedule to the ICC, with the proposed dates being from February 19 to March 9, 2025.

“None of our stadiums are of international standard” – PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi

In a related development, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi made headlines with a candid remark about the state of Pakistan’s cricket infrastructure. During a media interaction, Naqvi acknowledged that Pakistan’s stadiums currently do not meet international standards.

“There’s a huge difference between international stadiums and ours… none of our stadiums are of international standard,” Naqvi stated. He further mentioned that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is working tirelessly to upgrade the stadiums, with the goal of making them some of the best in the world. “Providing basic facilities in stadiums is [our] first priority,” he added.

Amid the ongoing construction, the PCB has already made adjustments to domestic cricket. The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh, initially planned for the National Stadium in Karachi, has been moved to Rawalpindi due to construction work. Both Tests in the series will now be played in Rawalpindi, with the first Test starting on August 21 and the second on August 30.

The PCB’s focus remains on ensuring that the Champions Trophy is hosted seamlessly, with all necessary preparations being made to deliver a world-class tournament.