The ICC remains “comfortable and confident” that the 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled in Pakistan, will go ahead as planned.

The PCB was awarded hosting rights last week, the first ICC global event to be staged there after the 1996 World Cup.

“From what we can see, absolutely. There has been international cricket in Pakistan for a few years, all of it with the exception of what happened in the last few weeks.

“We wouldn’t have awarded the event if we didn’t think Pakistan was capable of hosting it. We think it is an exciting opportunity for them to be able to host a world event for the first time in a long time. I’m sure, as with all countries, they will put together appropriate security plans to deliver the event. We’re comfortable and confident it will go ahead,” ICC chairman Greg Barclay said on Monday.

New Zealand and England have recently pulled out of bilateral tours to Pakistan citing massive security concerns. Union sports minister Anurag Thakur has already expressed apprehensions about India’s participation in the 2025 event. “Security is the main challenge there, like teams have been attacked in the past, which is a concern,” Thakur said recently.

Barclay acknowledged there was little the ICC could do about India’s participation in Pakistan.

“We know it’s a challenging issue,” Barclay said. “From my point of view, I can’t control geo-political forces. I just hope cricket can be a force to help improve relations between countries.”