Former cricketer and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja on Tuesday expressed delight at the International Cricket Council’s decision to award the hosting rights of Champions Trophy 2025 to Pakistan. The cricket-crazy Asian nation has not been hosting many international bilateral series in the country after the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists in Lahore back in 2009.

Pakistan last hosted a major ICC trophy in 1996 along with India and Sri Lanka and the return of a major men’s tournament has brought cheers to the PCB top brass which was left fuming a month ago when New Zealand and England decided to pull out of their respective tours, citing security concerns in the lead up to the T20 World Cup.

The hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden along with Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt. The ICC Board accepted the recommendations of the committee who conducted a thorough review of each bid along with ICC management.

Full list of hosts of ICC men’s events from 2024 to 2031

PCB said on Tuesday that Pakistan, the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, will hos the Champions Trophy across three venues in the country in February 2025.

“I am pleased no-end with the ICC’s decision to select Pakistan as a host nation for one of their elite tournaments. By allocating a major global event to Pakistan, the ICC has expressed complete confidence and faith in our management and operational capabilities and skills,” Ramiz Raja said in a PCB release.

Pakistan will deliver a world-class event: Raja

Ramiz Raja said Pakistan will leave no no stone unturned to host a ‘world-class event’ while also stressing that they will filed a strong side that will entertain the home fans. Notably, Pakistan reached the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2021 despite the shaky lead up to the showpiece event in the UAE.

“We have continued to demonstrate how a great host we are and through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, we will again showcase our passion and love for the sport as this event will be a boon to the millions of home fans, who will see world class teams and their favourite international players from close quarters.

“We not only endeavour to plan and deliver a world-class event, we will also prepare and field a strong and formidable side that can perform and entertain our home fans.

“We saw during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign how the nation got united and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home will be another opportunity to further strengthen that bond as we defend the title,” Raja added.

The ICC announcement comes as a big boost to Pakistan who are trying to bring back international cricket. Notably, Raja was left fuming when New Zealand pulled out of a long tour, which involved 3 ODIs and 5 T20is hours ahead of the ODI series opener in September. The Black Caps players had arrived in Rawalpindi only to head home, citing security concerns.

Notably, England refrained from sending a team to Pakistan before the T20 World Cup.

“I am severely disappointed in England’s withdrawal but it was expected because this western bloc gets united unfortunately and tries to back each other,” Ramiz had said.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the PCB announced that England will tour Pakistan and play 7 T20Is in 2022. Australia are set to tour Pakistan in March-April 2022 wherein they will play 3 Tests, as many ODis and a lone T20I.

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