New Delhi
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is hosted by Pakistan Cricket Board i.e. PCB. The problems of PCB have been increased by the Board of Control for Cricket in India i.e. BCCI. BCCI has put pressure on Pakistan through ICC to organize this tournament to be played in February-March on hybrid model. The Indian team should play its matches in Dubai and the remaining matches should be held in Pakistan. However, Pakistan is not ready for this at present. Even reports are coming that Pakistan may withdraw from hosting the tournament if the Indian team does not come to Pakistan. If this happens then a new country may get a chance to host the tournament.
Actually, according to the report of Cricbuzz, BCCI has informed ICC through email that the Indian team will not go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Due to security reasons, the Indian government will also not be in favor of this. In such a situation, the tournament should be organized on hybrid model. ICC has sent this email to PCB. Pakistan Cricket Board is not ready for this.
On the other hand, the Pakistan government has put pressure on the PCB. It is being said in the reports that the Pakistan government has told the board that if the Indian team does not come to Pakistan then they can leave the hosting of the tournament. The government has also indicated that Pakistan should not agree to organize the tournament even on the hybrid model. In such a situation, if Pakistan withdraws from hosting the tournament, then the entire tournament can be organized in South Africa.
Why can South Africa become host?
If the Pakistan Cricket Board withdraws from hosting the Champions Trophy, then this tournament can also be organized in South Africa because that would be a good option for everyone. The SA20 league will end there in the first week of February and after that the Champions Trophy window will be vacant. Apart from this, no ICC event has been organized in South Africa for a long time, so this can be a good option for ICC also. However, South Africa has to co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup with Zimbabwe.
