The future of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled in Pakistan is in the headlines currently as BCCI has informed the ICC that they won’t be travelling to Pakistan for security reasons. India has not travelled to Pakistan since 2006 and has not played any bilateral series with them since 2012/13.
The Indian Government has not given the team the permission to travel to Pakistan. Their stance is clear: ‘Till Pakistan stops funding cross-border terrorism, India won’t travel to the neighbouring nation.’
BCCI has asked the ICC for the tournament to be held in a Hybrid model with India’s matches either in Sri Lanka or the UAE. UAE is the frontrunner to hold the matches if it is played in a Hybrid model. Today, a PCB spokesperson informed that they have received an email from the ICC that the BCCI has informed them that they will not travel to Pakistan.
“The PCB has received an email from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB has forwarded that email to the Government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance,” a PCB spokesperson told Hindustan Times.
The discussion is still on regarding the schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Another source has stated that the schedule of the tournament is still not confirmed as discussions continue to run between the host nation and the participating nations. This time around, PCB were hell-bent on hosting the whole tournament in their nation and wanted India to play all their matches in Lahore.
They were also ready to give multiple entry visas to the Indian players and support staff so that they could play their matches in Lahore and return back to Amritsar or New Delhi.
Pakistan may withdraw from the upcoming Champions Trophy if the hosting rights are taken away owing to the non-participation of India in the Champions Trophy, as they repeatedly urge the ICC for a hybrid model.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, Rashid Latif, has revealed that Pakistan will pull out of the tournament if India doesn’t travel to their nation. Moreover, PCB has also warned that if India doesn’t travel to Pakistan, then they will also not travel to India for the next ICC events and will want a Hybrid model.
