Pakistan's Champions Trophy dream gets a massive hit

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is busy making the final decision on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting. While Pakistan is still hoping for its best, the country’s dream gets a massive hit on Tuesday (November 26). 

Sri Lanka A was touring Pakistan for the first-class cricket and List A cricket series. In between the List A cricket series, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to postpone the series, and the A team will return to the country immediately after the consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

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The reason for the postponement

Talking about the postponement of the series, the PCB reasoned the political activity in the capital city Islamabad. The city is experiencing mass protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) supporters. Former Pakistan ODI World Cup-winning captain and former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan is the leader of this party.

The PCB officially stated, "The Pakistan Cricket Board, in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket, has postponed the last two 50-over matches of the Pakistan Shaheens-Sri Lanka A series due to a political activity in the federal capital. The last two matches were scheduled for Wednesday and Friday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Both boards will collaborate to finalise new dates to complete the series."   

Due to the concern about the impact of the protest, the PCB already shifted the three-match List A series opener from Rawalpindi Cricket Ground to Islamabad Club, which was played as scheduled on November 25. The immediate venue change was crucial for the PCB, as the series-opener match was played after Imran Khan issued the "final call" for his supporters to march to Islamabad to demand many things, including his release from prison. While Rawalpindi is known as the twin city of Islamabad, the impact of the protest can be expected in the city. 

The present situation

Like Islamabad, Rawalpindi is also experiencing holidays in all public and private educational institutions. Train services have also been suspended between Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. On the other hand, the Islamabad protest has experienced massive violence, deaths, and an internet shutdown.  

While Islamabad Club hosted the List A series opener, Pakistan Shaheens won that fixture by 108 runs. However, according to the latest schedule, Rawalpindi Cricket Ground would host the last two List A fixtures on November 27 and 29.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Shaheens have already won the two-match first-class cricket series against Sri Lanka A by 1-0. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hosted both of those four-day matches, where Pakistan Shaheens won the first game by seven wickets, and the second match had a draw result. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025

In the meantime, the ICC will reportedly hold a virtual board meeting on November 29 to discuss the hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While the PCB strongly wants to host the entire tournament in the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied sending the Indian team to Pakistan. 

While the ICC and BCCI are reportedly pushing the PCB to go for the hybrid model to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB is reluctant on it. However, the recent blow, the postponement of Sri Lanka A tour of Pakistan can put the PCB on the back foot. 

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been scheduled to be played between February and March 2025, but the PCB is facing a race against time moment after the latest chaos in the nation.