The Indian cricket team will not be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian media reported on Thursday citing a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The BCCI source told the media that the board is planning to formally propose Dubai and Sri Lanka as potential venues for hosting India’s matches.
This proposal will be presented to the International Cricket Council (ICC), suggesting a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy like the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.
“India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. We will tell ICC to hold its matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka,” a BCCI source said.
For the unversed, Pakistan was initially slated to be the sole host for the Asia Cup 2023. However, due to India’s reluctance, Sri Lanka stepped in to co-host the tournament under a hybrid model.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted the schedule for the Champions Trophy to the ICC last week, which was reportedly approved by all the participating countries except India.
The BCCI has emphasized that India’s visit to Pakistan is contingent upon receiving permission from the government.
“In the case of the Champions Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India tells us to do,” BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said in May.
“We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government.”
It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.