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Blow To Pakistan Before Champions Trophy; Fire In Hotel Forces PCB To End Tournament

Anurag Dasgupta

Fire in Karachi Hotel [Source: @JohnyBravo183/X.Com]Fire in Karachi Hotel [Source: @JohnyBravo183/X.Com]

The Champions Trophy 2025 has been surrounded with controversies for the last one year. For starters, India rejected going to Pakistan and demanded a hybrid model for the event. Moreover, PCB rejected India's proposal and there is a tug of war between the two nations.

Now, with just a couple of months left for the mega event, a massive tragedy struck in Pakistan when several women cricketers survived a massive fire in the team hotel. The PCB had booked a floor on a hotel for the five teams in the Women's National Championship, and while most of the players were at the National Stadium in Karachi for the practice, five were in the hotel rooms when the disaster struck.

PCB event cancelled, Champions Trophy in jeopardy

Luckily, all players came out safely and PCB took the decision to cancel the entire tournament, and it has put the Champions Trophy in jeopardy. PCB's arrangements have been questioned and their pressing of the panic button has raised eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity.

The PCB released a statement and gave the confirmation that the players are safe, but the entire event has been cancelled.

"PCB has decided to curtail the National Women's One-Day Tournament 2024-25 in Karachi following a fire incident at the team hotel," the PCB said in a statement. "Fortunately, no players were injured, as the PCB promptly evacuated the five players in the hotel at the time of the incident and relocated them safely to the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre."

India in no mood to come to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

With just a few months left for the ICC event, India has clearly said no to Pakistan. The Indian government hasn't given the clean chit and as a result, the team won't travel to their neighbouring country.

This was made PCB furious as they have demanded a written explanation from the BBCI for their reasons of not coming to Pakistan. The BCCI clearly demands a hybrid model, but on Monday, PCB chief, Mohsin Naqvi rejected the idea and clearly stated that Champions Trophy will solely be hosted by Pakistan.