ICC reveals why it gave Pakistan hosting rights for 2025 Champions Trophy

The International Cricket Council is confident that teams will have no reservation in travelling to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan has not hosted many international games since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.

ICC chairman Greg Barclay said that the governing body wouldn't have awarded the hosting rights to Pakistan if it wasn't confident of the event going ahead successfully.

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The ICC last week awarded the hosting rights of the 2025 Champions Trophy to Pakistan. It will mark the return of a major cricketing event to Pakistan after more than two decades.

The last time Pakistan saw an ICC event on their own soil was when the country co-hosted the 1996 World Cup along with India and Sri Lanka.

In September, New Zealand and England had pulled out of their bilateral tours to Pakistan due to security concerns.

India's participation in the tournament remains a doubt as no bilateral cricket has taken place between the two neighbours since 2012 due to diplomatic tensions after terror attacks in India.