Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy in 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday.
The One-Day International cricket tournament was scheduled to be played in the South Asian country in 2009 as well, but was moved to South Africa following a terrorist attack on visiting Sri Lankan players in the northeastern city of Lahore.
Pakistan last hosted the 1996 World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka, and the return of a major international tournament has brought cheers to the Pakistan Cricket Board's top brass.
“It’s a matter of great pride and delight that Pakistan will be hosting ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This great news will surely excite millions of Pakistani fans, expats and world fans to see great teams and players in action and will allow the world to sample our hospitality,” chairman Ramiz Raja said on Twitter.
This September, New Zealand abandoned their tour of Pakistan citing security concerns, moments before the start of the series. England followed suit and canceled their scheduled visit in October.
After a six-year hiatus, Zimbabwe in 2015 became the first team to visit the country after the 2009 attack. Since then, international teams such as South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka have played in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the US will co-host its first-ever mega cricket tournament – the T20 World Cup 2024 – alongside West Indies.
India and Sri Lanka will co-host the T20 World Cup 2026, while Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the tournament’s next edition in 2028.
The 50-over World Cup in 2027 will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while India and Bangladesh will host the 2031 edition.
