The International Cricket Council is confident that India and other teams will travel to Pakistan to play Champions Trophy in 2025. The ICC last week awarded the hosting rights of the global to Pakistan. It will mark the return of an ICC event to the sub-continent country after more than two decades.
Pakistan co-hosted the 1996 World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka.
“The answer is, from what we can see so far, absolutely (teams will travel),” ICC chair Greg Barclay said on Monday.
“ICC cricket event is coming back to Pakistan after many years. All of it with the exception of what happened in the last few weeks has gone ahead without any any issues at all,” added Barclay, who was joined by ICC CEO Geoff Allardice.
Greg Barclay further added that the governing body had not allotted the rights to Pakistan if the country was not tournament ready in terms of security and other facilities.
“So, we wouldn’t have awarded the event if we didn’t think the Pakistan were capable of hosting it. We think it’s an exciting opportunity, a prospect for them to be able to host a world’s event for the first time for a period of quite a period of time.”
“It’s not until 2025 and I’m sure that they will, as all countries are required to do, put together the appropriate security plans and assurances to ensure that they can been as delivered. So yes, we were comfortable and confident that we’ll go ahead,” Barclay added.