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Over 100 Pakistani policemen dismissed for refusing Champions Trophy duties

In an unprecedented move, over 100 policemen of Pakistan's Punjab Police have been dismissed from service for refusing to perform assigned security duties during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, police said on Tuesday. The dismissed personnel were associated with various wings of the police force. According to an official of the Punjab Police, more than 100 police officials and officers have been removed from their positions for being found absent from duty on numerous occasions, with several others refusing to perform their assigned tasks during the Champions Trophy. "The police officials were assigned to provide security for teams travelling between Qaddafi Stadium Lahore and designated hotels but either remained absent or outright refused to take up their responsibilities," he said. The official said IGP Punjab Usman Anwar has taken notice of the matter and ordered strict action against the cops in question. "There is no room for negligence when it comes to the security of

PCB set to reshuffle coaching staff after Champions Trophy disaster: Report

The backlash due to the poor show in the Champions Trophy, including the humiliating defeat to India, hit the Pakistan team hard and its support staff led by former fast bowler Aaqib Javed is set to be overhauled, according to a cricket Board source. Pakistan lost to arch-rivals India by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday, after their 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on February 19. A well-informed source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Aaqib will be relieved of his duties as interim head coach after the Champions Trophy. Obviously there is backlash over the team's performance in the CT. The Board hasn't decided as yet on whether the team will have separate head coaches (for red and white ball teams) but one thing is certain the current support staff will be overhauled now after the poor show in the Champions Trophy, the source told PTI. "But the way the Board has been changing coaches and selectors since last year, it will be a ...

Attracting sponsors will be PCB's next biggest challenge for Pakistan team

Pakistan cricket is on the ropes yet again, and this time, even attracting sponsors for the men's national team could become a challenge for the powers that be after the abysmal outing in the Champions Trophy. Traditional rivals India thrashed Pakistan by six wickets in their match in Dubai on Sunday, pushing the tournament hosts on the brink of elimination. One day before India delivered a knockout blow to the team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials were brimming with confidence following a fantastic turnout at the Gaddafi Stadium for the Australia-England match. "It was an uplifting experience to see people respond and enjoy a match not involving Pakistan," a board official said. "But now, the challenge is to ensure the crowds keep on coming for the remaining matches in Pakistan, because we are hosting such a big event after 29 years," he conceded. The eight-team Champions Trophy is the first ICC event in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup and there were expectations tha

IND vs PAK: PCB asks ICC for explanation over India's national anthem row

Left red-faced after India's national anthem played for a fraction of a second at the start of the Australia-England Champions Trophy match here on Saturday, the Pakistan Cricket Board has blamed the ICC for the fiasco and demanded an explanation from the world body. At the start of the game when the two teams lined up for their national anthems, the spectators were left surprised as the Indian national anthem played for a second before being stopped. A source close to the ICC confirmed that the PCB had sent a letter to the governing body outlining the incident and demanding an explanation. "The PCB has made it clear that the ICC needs to offer some explanation as their people are responsible for the (national anthem) playlist of teams in the Champions Trophy. "Since India is not playing in Pakistan, it is hard to understand how their anthem was played by mistake from the playlist," the source said. India had refused to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns and are playing t

PCB embarrassed after Indian national anthem played during AUS vs ENG match

The incident was particularly unusual, as India is not scheduled to play any matches in Lahore

Pakistan missing from IND vs BAN broadcast logo, PCB seeks ICC response

During the match, the logo displayed in the top left corner of the broadcast only featured the event name, 'Champions Trophy 2025,' without mentioning Pakistan as the official host

Champions Trophy: Military, paramilitary in charge of security in Pakistan

The Pakistan government has given its go-ahead for using the military and paramilitary rangers to shore up security for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy in the country. According to media reports, the federal cabinet okayed plans to have top security for the mega-event and gave approval to use military and rangers for this purpose. The government has already earmarked over 10,000 policemen including elite commando units to provide security at the grounds and team hotels in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi when the tournament begins on February 19 in Karachi. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the federal interior minister, is personally overseeing all the security arrangements for the tournament. India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the tournament citing security concerns and will play all their matches in Dubai. A source in the board said that Naqvi had also discussed with security and law enforcement senior officials the best way to ensur

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Ayub is "progressing well in his right ankle fracture injury," and he continues his rehabilitation in England.

Gaddafi Stadium upgraded and ready for international cricket: PCB

PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi expressed his gratitude to the workers who dedicated themselves day and night to complete the work on schedule, despite initial skepticism and criticism.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Fakhar Zaman returns as Pakistan announce squad

Hosts Pakistan are the last of the eight participating teams to announce their Champions Trophy squad

Imran Khan's name will remain on Lahore stadium enclosure, clarifies PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board has dismissed speculation that legendary cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's name would be removed from an enclosure at the recently-renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore owing to his incarceration on charges of corruption. Speculation was doing the rounds that PCB had removed the name of the 1992 World Cup-winning former captain from one of the enclosures at the stadium due to the "current political situation". "No names have been changed or removed on enclosures," an official of the PCB said without taking any names, adding that names of all enclosures will remain as they were earlier. The Gaddafi stadium has been renovated for the Champions Trophy that starts on February 19. The Imran Khan enclosure, which is one of the VIP stands in the stadium, has been a permanent fixture at the venue since 1992. The former Prime Minister is presently in Attock jail of Punjab province and has vehemently denied allegations of corruption, insisting that he is a vi

Gaddafi Stadium to be handed over to ICC for Champions Trophy on Feb 11

Amid rising concerns over the readiness of Champions Trophy venues in the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that the iconic Gaddafi Stadium here would be handed over to the ICC on February 11, little over a week before the start of the ODI showpiece. The PCB posted a video of the new-look stadium on 'X' and wrote, "Under the lights, it's a sight to behold!...We can't wait to welcome fans, officials and teams for the tri-nation series and Champions Trophy." The mega-event begins on February 19. A Board source told PTI that the stadium will be handed over to the International Cricket Council (ICC), "for branding and other stuff on February 11" after Pakistan's tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa. The ICC had set January 31 as the deadline for the handover of all three stadiums -- Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore), National Stadium (Karachi) and the Rawalpindi Stadium -- which will host the global event in Pakistan. The source added that "final touches" were being

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB assures their readiness to host the event

A report by Pakistan's leading English daily, Dawn, has suggested that the task of completing the renovation in time seems impossible at the moment

PCB chief rules out Pakistan opener from Champions Trophy 2025 squad

Naqvi addressed the media, stating that no risks would be taken with Saim's long-term career. He emphasized that the young talent's recovery would be closely monitored.

PCB hopeful of Rohit attending opening ceremony of Champions Trophy

The eight-nation tournament is scheduled to take place between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan

PCB dismisses rumours about Champions Trophy being moved out of country

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rubbished speculations that the ICC Champions Trophy will be moved out of the country due to delayed construction work at three stadiums that will host the the event, starting February 19. The venues in Pakistan organising the tournament are Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi's National Bank Stadium, while India will play all its matches in Dubai. A PCB source said that the presence of a large International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation, including broadcast, hospitality and event operations officials, is an affirmation that the event is on schedule in Pakistan. "The PCB has spent nearly PKR 12 billion to upgrade our stadiums to make them fitting for an event like the Champions Trophy, which was awarded to us," he said. The source also said that an earlier statement about the stadium's work progress was also given out because of speculation in the media that the event would be moved out because of incomplete work at the

ICC to finalise hybrid model for 2025 Champions Trophy on Saturday: Report

India will play their matches at a neutral venue, including the final (if they qualify), if the hybrid model proposal is passed

Champions Trophy 2025 schedule: Will broadcasters demand T20 format again?

While uncertainty around the format of Champions Trophy, media reports suggest that 15-match event will follow a hybrid model-10 games in Pakistan & 5 potentially hosted in the UAE or Sri Lanka

PCB to face heavy losses if it withdraws as Champions Trophy 2025 hosts

The Pakistan Cricket Board could face revenue losses, lawsuits and also risk international alienation if it decides to withdraw from the ICC Champions Trophy over a deadlock on the mode of organising the 50-over event scheduled in February-March next year. A senior cricket administrator here, who is well-versed with the organisation of ICC events, told PTI on Wednesday that it would not be an easy decision for the PCB to pull out if the hybrid model is not accepted in entirety by the ICC and the BCCI. "Pakistan has not only signed a host agreement with the ICC but like all other participating nations in the event, it has also signed a mandatory Members' Participation Agreement (MPA) with the ICC," the administrator explained. "It is only after a member nation signs the MPA for playing in an ICC event that it is eligible to get a share of revenues earned from ICC events. "Most importantly when the ICC signed a broadcast deal for all its events, it has given a guarantee that all ICC

When will Champions Trophy schedule be out? Star Sports starts campaign

The 20-second advertisement from Star Sports features all participating teams, including India, which almost confirms the participation of the two-time champions in the 2024 edition of the tournament