The ICC has scheduled the trophy tour of the Champions Trophy to start from Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan, but will not include Muzaffarabad as the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Originally the route did contain Muzaffarabad, and BCCI was not too pleased with that. It objected to that route, thereby delaying the finalization process of the new route, with worries that the entire tour may be postponed. The Pakistan Cricket Board had announced the tour route on social media, where it caught the International Cricket Council (ICC) off guard as normally the ICC announces such details regarding its events. However, after negotiations an alternative route was confirmed at around late last Friday night and the tour will still go ahead as initially planned to start from Islamabad tomorrow. Cricket legend and former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will receive the trophy on its first day in Islamabad. It will be taken to some of the reputed landmarks like Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument. It will then make rounds of a number of schools, colleges and landmarks in Abbottabad, Murree and Karachi before traveling abroad for an international tour to the remaining seven participating countries of the Champions Trophy. Date and Locations of Trophy Tour: 16 November, 2024 - Islamabad, Pakistan 17 November, 2024 - Taxila and Khanpur, Pakistan 18 November, 2024 - Abbottabad, Pakistan 19 November, 2024 - Murree, Pakistan 20 November, 2024 - Nathia Gali, Pakistan 22 - 25 November, 2024 - Karachi, Pakistan 26 – 28 November, 2024 - Afghanistan 10 – 13 December, 2024 - Bangladesh 15 – 22 December, 2024 - South Africa 25 December, 2024 – 5 January, 2025 - Australia 6 – 11 January, 2025 - New Zealand 12 – 14 January, 2025 - England 15 – 26 January, 2025 - India 27 January, 2025 – event start - Pakistan Also Read | Watch: Babar Azam Drops a Sitter in AUS vs PAK 2nd T20I The location of the Championship still remains a guesswork. The trophy will return to Pakistan on January 27, weeks only before the tournament is set to begin, with another tour around the country. However, with less than 100 days to go before the start of the Champions Trophy, there is still no clarity about how much of the tournament will be played in Pakistan. The BCCI, however, has replied to the ICC that the Indian government will not entertain the idea of allowing the Indian team to go ahead with a tour of Pakistan this season. This leaves open the possibility of a hybrid model wherein India plays its games outside Pakistan. The PCB will have none of it, still sticking to the argument that the entire tournament take place in Pakistan. The PCB has written to the ICC, seeking a written reason from the BCCI explaining why it refused, and clarification of when the ICC was informed of the BCCI's decision.