Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan are given the hosting rights to the next ICC event in February-March. The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan between February 19 and March 9. The top eight ranked sides will take part in it, and Pakistan will defend their title. Two groups are divided into four teams each. Group A has India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B has Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
All the participating nations have agreed to travel to Pakistan, and the PCB has already submitted the proposed schedule for the tournament to the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to send Team India to Pakistan for the tournament. Some media reports confirm that the BCCI will request that the ICC host India’s matches in the UAE or Sri Lanka for safety concerns.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB asks BCCI to submit written proof of Government’s denial to ICC
India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral series against each other and only play in multinational tournaments. However, India have not travelled to Pakistan since 2008. They even played their matches in the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan were the host. According to the BCCI, the Indian government doesn’t allow the team to travel to Pakistan because of a border dispute between the two nations.
However, the PCB has now raised questions on this and asked the BCCI to submit proof of the government’s denial in writing to the ICC. Notably, the annual conference of the ICC will take place in Colombo on July 19, where the BCCI will request a hybrid model.
However, a PCB source confirmed to PTI that they would ask for the writing proof. He said, “If the India government declines permission, it has to be in writing, and it is mandatory on the BCCI to provide that letter to the ICC now.”
Furthermore, the source also said that the BCCI should confirm their travel plans 5–6 months ago so that the arrangements can be made. According to the proposed schedule by the PCB, India will play all three group matches in Lahore. The source also confirmed that the ICC has allocated extra budget the Champions Trophy 2025, in case some matches (India’s game) are played outside Pakistan.
