Champions Trophy: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has verbally notified the International Cricket Council (ICC) of its decision not to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, citing government directives as the main reason. According to top BCCI sources, an official statement will follow once the tournament schedule is finalized.
After Quetta Blast, Champions Trophy in Pakistan in Jeopardy?
The Champions Trophy, set to return after an eight-year hiatus, is expected to host the top eight cricketing nations, with Pakistan holding the hosting rights. However, this decision may lead to a significant shift in tournament logistics, as the BCCI favors playing matches in a “hybrid model” in the United Arab Emirates instead of Pakistan. This approach would allow India to participate without traveling to Pakistan, according to sources from India Today.
Despite reports suggesting flexibility, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has strongly asserted that there has been no agreement on a hybrid model. “We need everything in writing if India has any issues with traveling to Pakistan,” Naqvi remarked during an inspection of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. He emphasized that no official communication regarding India’s reluctance to travel has yet reached the PCB from either the ICC or BCCI.
Meanwhile, ICC sources, when approached for comment, clarified that the tournament schedule is still in discussion and a formal decision on the venue logistics will be announced once finalized.
Naqvi also stated that Pakistan’s preparations for the Champions Trophy remain on track
Naqvi also stated that Pakistan’s preparations for the Champions Trophy remain on track, adding, “If India decides to pull out, we will seek guidance from our government on how to proceed, given the cordial relations maintained with the BCCI over the years.”
The backdrop of recent security concerns, including the Quetta blast, has only intensified discussions around hosting international tournaments in Pakistan, raising questions about the viability of the Champions Trophy’s current arrangements and further complicating Indo-Pak sports diplomacy.
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