A five-member delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) arrived in Karachi on Tuesday for an inspection ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Pakistan. The delegation includes top officials from the ICC’s Events and Security Departments, as well as the General Manager of Cricket and Production Manager.
The visit is part of the ongoing preparations for the tournament. Notably, ICC Pitch Consultant Andy Atkinson has made three visits to Pakistan since April. During this visit, the ICC team will review a tentative tournament schedule submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) months ago.
One key issue under discussion is the possible arrangement for India’s matches to be held in Lahore, along with contingency plans should the Indian government not allow its team to travel to Pakistan.
The ICC delegation will inspect the ongoing construction work and team accommodations in Karachi before heading to Islamabad and Lahore. According to reports, the recce will conclude on September 21, when the delegation departs for Dubai.
“The ICC Security Manager will receive briefings from Pakistani officials during the visit,” a source said. Final decisions on the schedule will be made by the ICC in due course. The visit is a critical step in ensuring that Pakistan is ready to host its first global cricket tournament in decades.