NEW DELHI: The ICC recently unveiled a vibrant new promotional video for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, confirming Pakistan as the tournament host.
The promo introduces a strikingly unconventional logo and design, created to be “bold, loud, confident, and fun,” and reflects cricket’s distinctive language and culture.
According to the ICC, the visual identity is “digital-first” and modern, crafted to break conventions with a dynamic, typographic logo.
“The newly created visual identity is a digital-first vibrant expression, deliberately challenging the status quo, with an unconventional typographic logo which sets the tone for the look – bold and loud, confident and fun,” an ICC statement read.
“It has been designed to be agile, distinctive, and expressive, it’s inspired by the language of cricket; from the unique and integral words that describe the game, to the shouts when a wicket falls, to the name of each superstar that appears on the back of their kit. Both the verbal and written words are an integral part of the sport and that is celebrated through the brand,” it added.
Watch:
However, while the promo stirred excitement, challenges remain. India have yet to confirm participation, citing security concerns as their reason for refusing to tour Pakistan.
This ongoing tension raises concerns about whether the Champions Trophy might adopt a hybrid hosting model, similar to the arrangement for last year’s Asia Cup, where Pakistan shared hosting rights with Sri Lanka to accommodate India’s matches.
Reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to request formal clarification from the ICC regarding India’s stance, seeking transparency from the BCCI on their position.
The situation remains tense, with sources indicating that the PCB have ruled out the hybrid model if it compromises Pakistan’s right to host the full event.
Alternatives, such as moving the tournament to South Africa or the UAE, have been discussed, according to multiple reports.
#LIVE: What is future of Champions Trophy? | #beyondtheboundary
In a surprising turn, some reports mention that Pakistan may even consider pulling out of the Champions Trophy if it loses hosting rights, potentially escalating diplomatic tensions between the two cricket boards.
As the tournament draws near, all eyes are on the ICC, BCCI, and PCB to see if a resolution can be reached that ensures the tournament proceeds in its originally planned host nation, Pakistan.
