India will not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. According to ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI’s decision stems from guidance from the Indian government advising against sending the team to Pakistan. Originally scheduled to be hosted across three Pakistani venues between February 19 and March 9, the eight-nation tournament now faces potential changes, with the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expected to work on a contingency plan. A likely solution could be a hybrid model, involving games in Pakistan and an alternate location.

The prospect of implementing a hybrid model isn’t without complications. On Friday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that there had been no discussions on a hybrid format and made clear that the PCB was not prepared to consider this option. However, reports suggest that the ICC had prepared various backup options months ago, foreseeing the possibility of a hybrid structure. Among the alternative host countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as a leading candidate due to its geographical proximity to Pakistan. Sri Lanka is also under consideration as a potential co-host.

The ICC was notified of the BCCI’s position earlier this week, although it remains unclear whether this was an oral or written communication. The ICC may be waiting for an official written statement from the BCCI before formally communicating the stance to the PCB. Naqvi stated that any official objection from the BCCI would need to be documented in writing. Should such an objection be presented, Naqvi plans to consult with the Pakistani government before making any definitive decisions.

The PCB chairman’s recent comments reflect a more resolute stance than before, as he voiced the PCB’s reluctance to accept a hybrid arrangement. He referenced Pakistan’s willingness to play in India during the 2023 ODI World Cup, despite India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. That tournament eventually used a hybrid model with matches staged in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Naqvi highlighted this “great gesture” from Pakistan and hinted that any future tours to India by Pakistan would also be contingent upon government approval.

The 2025 Champions Trophy is set to feature eight teams, divided into two groups of four, with semi-finals and a final determining the champions. Competing nations include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. As the tournament’s 100-day countdown approaches on November 11, neither the match schedule nor ticketing details have been finalized. ESPNcricinfo reports that an event planned in Lahore next week to unveil the schedule may be postponed due to these ongoing complications.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have impacted cricket relations for over a decade. India last toured Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup, while Pakistan has continued to participate in ICC events hosted in India, including the recent 2023 World Cup. Since 2008, the two sides have met in only one bilateral series—a limited-overs tour in 2012-13 where Pakistan played a short white-ball series in India. The strained relationship continues to cast uncertainty over future cricketing engagements between the two nations.