BCCI Says Champions Trophy Will Not Go To PoK, Strongly Condemns Pakistan's Action

New Delhi: Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has strongly condemned Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) announcement to conduct Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), reiterating India's objection to move. Jay Shah raised matter with International Cricket Council (ICC), urging body to take appropriate action in light of BCCI’s concerns over territorial integrity and political interference in sports, sources have said.

In a desperate and provoking move, Pakistan Cricket Board h announced that ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin its trophy tour in Islamab on November 16, covering locations including Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarab in country. Notably, Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarab are situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

However, Pakistan’s move to provoke India came under immediate notice and faced objection from Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) following which International Cricket Council (ICC) cancelled proposed trophy tour in se cities.

International shame to Pakistan's desperate PoK move after strong objection from BCCI

BCCI strongly objected to Pakistan Cricket Board's purported move to take Champions Trophy for a tour of disputed 'Pakistan Occupied Kashmir' (POK), prompting global body ICC to put promotional event on hold.

tournament, last played in 2017, is alrey in limbo after BCCI officially intimated ICC about Indian cricket team's inability to travel to Pakistan.

PCB in return, as of now, has rejected proposed 'Hybrid Model' with India playing its matches in Dubai. schedule has also been put on hold and new controversy could only make things ugly.

It is learnt that BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Friday spoke to top brass of ICC and condemned this move by Pakistan and has urged global body to take strong note.

" BCCI secretary, after it came to his notice, called up ICC and was extremely critical of PCB's move to conduct a Trophy tour of multiple cities which fall under Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," a senior BCCI official privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"He has urged ICC to take strong action. As far as Islamab is concerned, re is no issue but re can't be any Trophy tour to POK." Trophy Tour is part of global body’s promotional campaign, involving visits to multiple cities as per discussions between international body and host country.

However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), without prior consultation with all stakeholders, announced on its official social media that Trophy would be taken to Skardu, Murree, and Hunza -- areas that fall under disputed territory.

"Get rey, Pakistan! ICC Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour kicks off in Islamab on 16 November, also visiting scenic travel destinations like Skardu, Murree, Hunza and Muzaffarab. Catch a glimpse of trophy which Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted in 2017 at Oval, from 16-24 November," PCB tweeted.

When an ICC Board Member was contacted, he told, “ discussions on Trophy tour is still on. I am not aware if PCB h kept everyone in loop about four cities mentioned but if not n it was certainly not right thing to do. I don't think ICC will allow PCB to take trophy to any disputed region.”

With inputs from PTI