The Indian cricket team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wanting the tournament to be held in a hybrid model with matches played in Sri Lanka or the United Arab Emirates instead. The BCCI has conveyed its decision to the International Cricket Council (ICC), citing the Indian government’s stance on not allowing the team to visit Pakistan due to the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
India has not toured Pakistan since 2008 and the two teams only play each other in multi-team events like the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments. Last year, the Asia Cup had to be held in a hybrid model with India’s matches taking place in Sri Lanka. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025, marking the first time the country will host a major ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. However, the BCCI is adamant that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan and wants the ICC to relocate the matches to either Dubai or Sri Lanka.
A couple of weeks ago, the Pakistan Cricket Board had prepared a rough draft of the Champions Trophy schedule and allotted India’s games in Lahore keeping the security factor in mind. But the BCCI seems to be in no mood to relent and it does not want to send its players to the neighboring country, where it has not travelled since 2008.
The likelihood of the Indian team travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy is slim, pending a final decision by the Indian government. In such a scenario, a hybrid model will be considered. India might play their matches in the UAE or Sri Lanka, similar to the Asia Cup. The ICC’s position on this matter will also be pivotal.
The BCCI’s stance has put the ICC in a tricky situation as it tries to balance the interests of all participating nations. The governing body will have to engage in extensive discussions with the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board to find a mutually acceptable solution. Relocating the entire tournament to a neutral venue could be an option, but that would deprive Pakistan of hosting a major ICC event on home soil for the first time in nearly three decades
.The diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have often spilled over into the cricketing realm, with the two arch-rivals refraining from playing bilateral series for over a decade now. The 2025 Champions Trophy could be the latest casualty of this ongoing political conflict, unless a compromise can be reached in the coming months.
Even though Pakistan went to India in 2012 for a bilateral series and also for ICC events in 2016 and last year, the Indian team has only played the arch-rival in ICC events since 2012. Last year, the Asia Cup had to be held in a hybrid model, where Pakistan hosted a few games at home, whereas India’s fixtures were held in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, India recently played Pakistan in a T20 World Cup 2024 game in New York. The game went right down to the wire before the Indian team held their nerves and went on to win the game. The Indian team will be looking to continue their dominance over Pakistan in ICC events, but the venue for their potential clash in the Champions Trophy remains uncertain.
The BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan has raised concerns among cricket fans who were eagerly anticipating the return of international cricket to the country. Pakistan has made significant strides in improving its security situation in recent years, with the successful hosting of several high-profile series and tournaments.
However, the BCCI seems to be in no mood to take any risks when it comes to the safety of its players. The Indian board has made it clear that it will only send its team to Pakistan with the full backing of the Indian government. Given the current political climate, it remains to be seen if the government will give the green light for the team to travel to Pakistan.
In conclusion, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is facing an uncertain future due to the BCCI’s reluctance to send its team to Pakistan. The ICC and the PCB will have to work closely with the BCCI to find a solution that works for all parties involved. The fans, meanwhile, will be hoping that the political tensions between the two countries do not overshadow the cricketing action on the field.