Home SportsPakistan eye future ICC events after 2025 Champions Trophy success Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is optimistic that the successful hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will pave the way for more ICC tournaments to be held in the country. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. 9PIC - X) New Delhi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is optimistic that the successful hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will pave the way for more ICC tournaments to be held in the country. This will mark Pakistan’s first time hosting an ICC event at home in 29 years, since the 1996 ODI World Cup. In preparation for the event, the PCB has invested considerable effort into ensuring a remarkable experience for fans, with renovations made to four venues that will host matches during the tournament. With just six days to go until the Champions Trophy begins, Naqvi believes that a smooth and successful event will position Pakistan as a prime candidate to host more ICC events in the future. “The ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy 2025 is a culmination of those efforts. Our successful hosting of this event will further enhance Pakistan’s credentials, positioning us as a strong contender for more ICC events in the next events cycle,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told Reuters. “Security has long ceased to be a concern for visiting teams as we have consistently demonstrated our ability to provide a safe, secure and well-managed environment for international cricket,” said Naqvi, who’s also the country’s internal security chief. Naqvi also highlighted the significant contribution of Pakistan’s homegrown T20 competition, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), in demonstrating the country’s preparedness to host a large-scale international event. “Once we successfully staged home international series and consistently delivered PSL (Pakistan Super League) editions at world-class standards, the ICC accepted and recognised Pakistan’s readiness to host a global event. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been a monumental task, requiring extensive preparations in a limited timeframe. Our stadiums last underwent significant renovations for the 1996 World Cup, and since then, the global cricketing landscape has evolved tremendously,” he added. Champions Trophy to begin on February 19:The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to kick off on February 19, with Pakistan facing New Zealand in the opening match in Karachi. The competition will have eight teams, split into two groups of four. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan. India will play all their games in Dubai due to their hesitation in traveling to Pakistan. If India advances to the final, the championship match will also take place in Dubai. Source link