The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has been over, and Team India went on to win the championship to become the new World T20 champion. Now, the focus will shift to the 50-over format because of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. This will be the ninth edition, and Pakistan have the hosting rights for the tournament.
As per some media reports, Pakistan have submitted the schedule for the coming tournament to the International Cricket Council. The last edition was played in 2017 in England, and Pakistan won it by beating arch-rival India in the final. But the biggest question has been the participation of Team India. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might not send Team India to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
PCB submits complete schedule to ICC for Champions Trophy 2025: Reports
Notably, India and Pakistan don’t face each other in bilateral series and play matches only in multi-national series. But because of the stringent relationships between two governments, the BCCI doesn’t allow the team to travel to Pakistan. The prime example we saw in the Asia Cup 2023 was when Pakistan had the hosting rights but only hosted four games, and all India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka.
Some reports confirmed earlier that India might not send the team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, according to PCB, they have already forwarded the schedule to the ICC, and the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is likely to take place on March 1 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The Champions Trophy 2025 will take place between February 19 and March 9.
The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who was present for the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, reportedly submitted the report to the ICC. A ICC official said, “The PCB has submitted the draft of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven games in Lahore, three in Karachi, and five in Rawalpindi.” Notably, according to the PCB’s draft, India are placed in Group A along with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Group B has Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
Recently, ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley met PCB Chariman to inspect the venues for the Champions Trophy. However, all the participating boards have given a green signal for participation except the BCCI. Notably, the ICC can’t force any cricket board to participate, and it will be up to the BCCI whether to play or not. So will it be another tournament played as a hybrid model in Pakistan, or will India travel for the Champions Trophy 2024? Only time will tell.
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