No country raised objections to Champions Trophy schedule including India: report

The schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was approved during the ICC Board meeting held last month in Dubai, with no objections raised by any participating country, including India, according to Geo News report.

The match schedule, which outlines 15 matches to be played across three venues in Pakistan—Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi—was shared with all participating teams and ICC broadcasters. 

Sources confirmed that the schedule had been reviewed and approved by ICC's main broadcast partner, Star, and no concerns were raised during the meeting. 

"The schedule has been developed in conjunction with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and has been shared with all relevant parties," an insider stated.

The PCB also provided updates on the progress of venue preparations, and no objections were made to the event's logistics or security arrangements.

A source close to the matter revealed Geo News that ICC security managers had already briefed representatives from all participating teams on the tournament’s master security plan, with no objections raised at any point.

However, tensions have arisen following verbal communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to the ICC, suggesting India's inability to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. 

This message came after the ICC Board meeting, sparking concerns about potential disruptions to the event. The timing of India’s stance, which came just ahead of an event marking 100 days to the tournament, has led to suspicions that there may be attempts to create obstacles ahead of the Champions Trophy.

A source in Islamabad suggested that the lack of formal communication from the BCCI raised questions about its intentions. 

"There was no discussion of these concerns during the ICC Board meeting, the appropriate forum for such matters," the source said. "The BCCI's verbal communication came just as Pakistan was preparing to unveil the match schedule and event identity."

Despite these developments, the PCB is continuing preparations for the Champions Trophy, including plans for an international testing event to be held at the three venues in January, as well as a major promotional event scheduled for November 11. 

The final schedule for the tournament, although shared with the board and broadcasters, has not yet been officially announced to the public.

The uncertainty surrounding India's participation has caused significant frustration among global cricket fans and stakeholders, particularly those with commercial interests tied to the event. "Branding and activation activities are on hold due to the ongoing uncertainty," one source said.

The PCB is awaiting a formal response from the ICC following its recent correspondence regarding India’s position. 

The source noted that any written communication from the BCCI would have been shared with the PCB by now, further suggesting that the delay is due to the lack of official documentation from India.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was officially awarded to Pakistan in December 2023, with the host agreement signed at that time.