Champions Trophy 2025: ICC pitch consultant arrives in Pakistan amid Indian propaganda
After Karachi, Andy Atkinson will also visit Lahore and Rawalpindi
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC)’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson arrived at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year.
Atkinson shared his input with local ground staff over the preparation of pitches for the mega event.
Atkinson will visit three venues, starting from Karachi to inspect playing facilities. After Karachi, he will also visit Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Last month, a three-member ICC team had also inspected the three venues. The event is planned in February 2025, and the PCB has already shared the draft schedule with ICC with matches at these three venues.
The eight-team tournament is anticipated to span over two weeks, although the exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
This event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy include Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi said on Tuesday that there is no reason for India not to come to Pakistan to play in the tournament.
“We have sent the schedule [of the Champions Trophy] to the ICC, all eight teams will come,” Naqvi assured. “There is no reason as to why India would refuse to come.
“If they [India] are doing propaganda, why aren’t you doing as well?” Naqvi asked the media. “We are not thinking of a hybrid model, there is no talk of the sort.”
India may not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year, and the venue for the event will likely get relocated or a hybrid model might be used, a BCCI source told IANS last month.
“Forget bilateral series...Team India may not even travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. There might be a change of venue, a hybrid model is also possible," a BCCI source said.
"The Indian board would need permission from the government for travel, currently our relations with Pakistan are not that good either.
“Champions Trophy is an ICC event, so it would be a tough call for India but nothing without the government's order/green signal. Bilateral series, I don't see in the near future, that's next to impossible.”
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