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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cancelled the planned trophy tour of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Skardu, Murree, and Muzaffarabad, areas which fall within Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The decision came shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the inclusion of these cities in the tour itinerary, which drew immediate objections from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Notably, the PCB had announced a nationwide trophy tour of the Champions Trophy from November 16 to 24.

The eight-team tournament is set to be held in Pakistan in February-March 2025 and to build up for the cricketing extravaganza, the PCB had organized the trophy tour. However, India Today has learnt that the trophy tour has been cancelled in the cities falling under the disputed land of the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).

Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy 2025 has been marred by controversy due to India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the cricketing event. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the ICC seeking clarification on India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. In its letter to the ICC, the PCB has requested an official explanation regarding India's stance. The communication from Pakistan does not discuss the event format or a potential hybrid model.

The PCB has confirmed in a statement that it was informed by the ICC about the BCCI’s decision. Reportedly, the PCB has forwarded the ICC’s communication to the Pakistani government to determine the next steps. This stand-off between the PCB and BCCI has left the future of the Champions Trophy in doubt. Pakistan has already allocated close to 17 billion rupees to upgrade stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi in preparation for the tournament next year.

The ICC was reportedly set to announce the schedule, without confirmation of the venues, in the second week of November. According to a tentative schedule, the Champions Trophy is set to be held from February 19 to March 9, with matches scheduled in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.

India and Pakistan don’t have bilateral cricketing relations since the two teams last contested in an ODI and T20I series in India in 2012-13. India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup and haven’t visited the country after the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai the same year.

In a tragic incident that shook the city of Dera Ismail Khan in northwest Pakistan, an explosion targeting police claimed the lives of five individuals and left 21 others injured on a fateful Friday. The blast occurred near a route frequently patrolled by the police, sending shockwaves through the community.

According to reports from news agency Reuters, the blast was a devastating blow to the city, as it occurred close to the path of a police patrol. Mohammad Adnan, a police official, revealed that the nature of the explosion was not immediately clear — it remained uncertain whether it was a result of a suicide attack or a bomb planted strategically nearby.

What makes this incident even more alarming is the lack of any immediate claim of responsibility. The authorities, along with the police and rescue teams, are tirelessly working to unravel the mystery behind this heinous act.

Dera Ismail Khan, situated on the border of Afghanistan, has long been a region marked by lawlessness. The city shares its borders with tribal districts, which have, over the years, become a dwelling place for both domestic and foreign Islamist militants. This grim reality has put the region on high alert, with security forces remaining vigilant in the face of potential threats.