Pakistan to host 2025 Champions Trophy - their first ICC event since 1996 World Cup

United States to host 2024 T20 World Cup as world governing body announces plans for next set of major events

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten fifty in a 10-wicket win over India at the T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan' captain Babar Azam also scored an unbeaten fifty in a thumping win over India in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi rocked India's batting with the new ball on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi celebrates the wicket of India's KL Rahul. Chris Whiteoak / The National

India captain Virat Kohli held the innings together with a fifty. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan's Hasan Ali celebrates Ravindra Jadeja's wicket. Chris Whiteoak / The National

India's Virat Kohli is caught behind off the bowling of Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan celebrate the wicket of India's Suryakumar Yadav. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan fans before the match at the Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan and India fans at the Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pakistan cricket received a massive boost on Tuesday with the International Cricket Council announcing that the country will host the 2025 Champions Trophy — the first major tournament in the country since the 1996 World Cup.

The news has come at a great time for Pakistan, lifting the mood of its fans after New Zealand and then England withdrew from their limited overs tours right before this year's T20 World Cup.

The announcement is a major endorsement for the cricket and security establishment of Pakistan, who had been trying for years to bring top-tier matches back to the country.

The Pakistan team recently gave an excellent account of themselves during the T20 World Cup, and this news will only add to the upbeat mood surrounding its game.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja said: “I am pleased no-end with the ICC’s decision to select Pakistan as a host nation for one of their elite tournaments. By allocating a major global event to Pakistan, the ICC has expressed complete confidence and faith in our management and operational capabilities and skills.

“We have continued to demonstrate how a great host we are and through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, we will again showcase our passion and love for the sport as this event will be a boon to the millions of home fans, who will see world class teams and their favourite international players from close quarters.

“We not only endeavour to plan and deliver a world-class event, we will also prepare and field a strong and formidable side that can perform and entertain our home fans. We saw during the T20 World Cup campaign how the nation got united and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home will be another opportunity to further strengthen that bond as we defend the title.”

Meanwhile, the ICC announced 14 host nations for the next ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups and Champions Trophy tournaments from 2024 to 2031.

Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe have been named as hosts, while the United States and Namibia are set to stage an ICC event for the first time.