ICC Champions Trophy 2025: BCCI brings PCB to its knees as India decline to travel to Pakistan

In a huge development regarding the Champions Trophy 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that they will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

There had been speculations regarding India's travel to Pakistan for the marquee ICC tournament over the last few days. But finally, the speculations have come to a rest as the BCCI has confirmed India's stance.

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India not to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

According to ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about India's stance on their reluctance to travel to Pakistan. It is believed that the Indian government has advised the BCCI not to send their cricket team to Pakistan.

This means that the ICC and the PCB will need to find a contingency plan as soon as possible to ensure India's participation. Hosting a tournament through hybrid model seems to be the likeliest way going ahead where India's matches will be hosted outside Pakistan.

However, it won't be easy for the ICC to convince the Pakistan Cricket Board. Recently, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi bluntly ruled out the option of hosting the tournament in a hybrid model and claimed that the whole tournament will take place in Pakistan.

It is also believed that there had been plans to host the tournament through hybrid model earlier as well. Countries like UAE and Sri Lanka have been shortlisted to host the tournament but UAE is believed to be the frontrunner.

The BCCI had already informed the ICC about India's stance but their was no proof of any verbal communication. The ICC is awaiting a written communication regarding the matter before they move it to the PCB. Even PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had asked for a written clarification regarding India's denial to travel to Pakistan.

PCB not ready to accept hybrid model

Mohsin Naqvi had clearly stated that the PCB is not ready to accept hybrid model for the tournament and insisted to host the whole tournament in Pakistan. He even claimed that Pakistan had made great gestures towards India innthe past but India hasn't been doing the same from their part.

Naqvi was referring to Pakistan's constant travels to India despite India not going to their country. In his statement, he also made it clear that Pakistan would not be obliged to travel to india in the future if India refuses to travel this time.

Pakistan last travelled to India for the ODI World Cup 2023 despite India refusing to travel to Pakistan just a few days earlier for the Asia Cup 2023. Ultimately, the Asia Cup 2023 had to be played in a hybrid model with India playing its matches in Sri Lanka, including the final.

Champions Trophy 2025 schedule

According to the draft schedule, the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played from February 19 to March 9 in three venues - Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.

India has been grouped with hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand in Group A. England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan are in Group B. The final schedule will be announced in Lahore in the upcoming days.