ISLAMABAD: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tour kicked off at a graceful ceremony in Islamabad on Satu­rday.

The glittering trophy was displayed at different prominent landmarks in the federal capital including Dama­n-e-Koh, Faisal mosque and Pakistan Monument.

The silverware, in collaboration with DP World, will journey across the eight participating nations during the tour.

After Islamabad, the trophy will head to other iconic places across Pakistan before leaving the land of defending champions to embark on an extensive international tour.

Earlier on Saturday, the ICC announced schedule of the Champions Trophy tour.

The PCB on Friday annou­­nced on its social media hand­les that the trophy tour would include stops in Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad — cities located in Kashmir which has remained a longstanding territorial dispute between India and Pakistan.

However, following strong objections from the BCCI, the ICC directed the PCB to exclude the three abovementioned cities from the itinerary.

As a result, the trophy tour in Pakistan other than Islam­abad now includes Taxila and Khanpur (Nov 17), Abbo­ttabad (Nov 18), Murree (Nov 19), Nathiagali (Nov 20) and Karachi (Nov 22-25).

Following the journey through Pakistan, the trophy will move to Afghanistan (Nov 26-28), Bangladesh (Dec 10-13), South Africa (Dec 15-22), Australia (Dec 25-Jan 5), New Zealand (Jan 6-11), England (Jan 12-14) and India (Jan 15-26) ahead of the opening of the eight-nation event.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024