A statement issued on ICC’s website today read: “The popular landmarks where the trophy will be displayed on the opening day of its tour in Islamabad are Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque, and the Pakistan Monument where it will be accompanied by Pakistan cricket icon Shoaib Akhtar.”

Cities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) found no mention in the Champions Trophy tour unveiled by the ICC on Saturday as the world body moved in swiftly to have them dropped from the host country's itinerary following India's strong objection.

Pakistan are the defending champions, having won the previous edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales in 2017. The change in itinerary has come after Pakistan wanted to take the trophy for a tour to PoK.

“BCCI secretary Shah has objected to the PCB’s idea to hold a Champions Trophy tour in PoK. The BCCI has no problem if the tour is conducted in any other city of Pakistan or even in a stadium outside PoK or in a mall. But they cannot hold it in PoK,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by IE.

A fresh twist in the 2025 Champions Trophy has thrown the ICC's trophy tour into confusion, a day before it was supposed to begin in Pakistan, after the BCCI objected to the PCB's plan of taking the tour to Muzaffarabad,

The ongoing controversy surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has intensified following objections raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the planned tour of the trophy to the controversially-claimed region called ‘Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)’.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) plan to take the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The BCCI secretary,