Well-placed sources revealed Tuesday that the International Cricket Council’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson will arrive in Pakistan tonight for a four-day visit to assess 2025 Champions Trophy grounds.
Champions Trophy: ICC pitch consultant fly to Pakistan to examine venues
Atkinson will assess playing facilities at three venues, starting in Karachi, sources say. He will visit Lahore and Rawalpindi after Karachi. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recommended three locations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy “initial draft schedule”.
Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi will host the February event, according to the cricket body. The eight-team competition is expected to last two weeks, although the dates are unknown. An ICC inspection team helped the PCB choose locations and a schedule.
Last month, a three-person ICC team inspected the three sites. The PCB has shared the draft schedule with ICC for February 2025, including matches at these three sites. Atkinson is anticipated to advise local ground officials on big event wicket preparation during the tour. July marks the ICC’s annual conference. The last ICC Champions Trophy was held in 2017, when Pakistan defeated India in the final.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will feature Pakistan (hosts), India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh.
