Pakistan to host ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, marking the country’s first international tournament on home soil in almost two decades.
Pakistan previously hosted an ICC tournament in 1996, co-hosting the 50-over World Cup with India and Sri Lanka, but the country has been effectively cut off from international cricket the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2009.
The announcement came as the ICC revealed the 14 countries that would hold ICC men’s white-ball competitions between 2024 and 2031, according to a statement from the sport’s governing organisation.
Eleven full members and three associate members will host two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cups, and two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy tournaments.
For the first time, the United States of America and Namibia will host an ICC World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe have all hosted big tournaments in the past decade and will do so again in the coming decade.
Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt were among the members of a Board panel who scrutinised the bidding process for the hosts.
The ICC board of directors adopted the committee’s recommendations after conducting a comprehensive evaluation of each offer in conjunction with ICC management.
A similar approach will be used to determine the hosts of the ICC Women’s and U19s competitions for the following cycle early next year.
2024-2031 Tournament host summary
|
Host/s |
Date |
Comp |
| West Indies & USA | June 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
| Pakistan | February 2025 | ICC Men’s Champions Trophy |
| India & Sri Lanka | February 2026 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
| South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia | October/November 2027 | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup |
| Australia & New Zealand | October 2028 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
| India | October 2029 | ICC Men’s Champions Trophy |
| England, Ireland & Scotland | June 2030 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup |
| India & Bangladesh | October/November 2031 | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup |
PCB chairman thanks ICC
In reaction, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja expressed gratitude to the ICC for awarding Pakistan the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, stating that the tournament will highlight Pakistan’s enthusiasm for the game.
Pakistan will defend the ICC Champions Trophy title in their home in February 2025, when the eight-team, 15-match competition will be hosted at three historic sites. Pakistan beat India by 180 runs at The Oval in 2017.
“I am overjoyed that the ICC chose Pakistan to host one of its premier events. By appointing Pakistan to host a major global event, the ICC has demonstrated great trust and faith in our managerial and operational capabilities and expertise,” he explained.
“Through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, we will once again display our enthusiasm and love for the game, as this event will benefit the millions of home fans, who will get up close and personal with world-class teams and their favourite international players,” he said.
As well as planning and executing an outstanding event, we’ll assemble and field a formidable team capable of thrilling our home crowd. We witnessed how the nation came together during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home will provide another opportunity to cement that link as we defend the championship,” Raja remarked.
