New Delhi November 22, The International Cricket Council said on Monday said it believes that teams will have reservations, traveling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC last week awarded the hosting rights of the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan. It will mark the return of major cricketing event to Pakistan after more than two decades.
The last time Pakistan had an ICC event on its soil was when it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka.
It has not been able to host many international games in the country since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
“The answer is, from what we can see so far, absolutely (teams will travel),” ICC chair Greg Barclay said on Monday.
“ICC cricket event is coming back to Pakistan after many years. All of it with the exception of what happened in the last few weeks has gone ahead without any any issues at all,” added Barclay, who was joined by ICC CEO Geoff Allardice.
In September, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ramiz Raja lashed out at the ‘western bloc’ after England and New Zealand pulled out of their tours to the Asian country due to security concerns. However, England are set to play 7 T20Is in Pakistan in 2022 while Australia are also set to tour the Asian nation.
