IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025: According to a BCCI source who spoke to ANI, the Indian team would want the matches of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 to be played in Sri Lanka or Dubai instead of Pakistan, ensured the International Cricket Council. The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February and March next year. India has not featured in any cricket event in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup because of strained relations between the two nations.
Bilateral Series History
The two nations’ most recent bilateral series took place in India from December 2012 to January 2013.. Since then, matches between the two nations were only held during ICC competitions and the Asia Cup. Due to relations between the two nations, doubt has overshadowed India’s participation in the upcoming tournament.
India’s cricket board had suggested to Pakistan that all of their matches would be held in one city, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo that identifies Lahore as the venue that will host all of India’s matches, but the idea of visiting Pakistan does not go down well with the Indian board. Source, told ANI that, “India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Will tell ICC to hold its matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka.”
Government Approval Needed
Recently in May, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla had said that the Indian team would travel to Pakistan only if the country’s central government allows it. Speaking to the ANI, Shukla said, “In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India permits us. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government.”
Hybrid Hosting and Pakistan’s Recent Cricket Diplomacy
The case was the same in regard to last year’s Asia Cup and was to be held in Pakistan, but PCB finally had to take on a hybrid model of hosting the Asia Cup with all India matches, including ones against Pakistan, being played in Sri Lanka.
The final of that tournament had been won by India in Colombo. Only a few months back, there were reports of Pakistan considering a hybrid model for participation in last year’s ODI World Cup in India. That never came into consideration. Last held in 2017, Pakistan is the reigning champion of the Champions Trophy.