ICC Champions Trophy 2025: BCCI officially writes to ICC and PCB for shifting matches to Dubai

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As per the latest reports, the BCCI has requested the ICC to play all of Team India's matches in Dubai due to security concerns.

Pakistan is the host of the upcoming Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be played from February 19 to March 9 next year. According to the tentative schedule submitted to the ICC by the PCB, all of Team India's matches are planned to take place in Lahore due to logistical and security concerns.

BCCI Officially Writes to ICC Regarding Stance for Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board has invested millions to upgrade stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi to ensure the smooth running of the tournament. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has asked them to shift India’s games to Dubai in an official letter to the ICC.

“This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai,” a source said, as quoted by The India Express.

A total of eight teams will play in the Champions Trophy with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the host cities. The BCCI has maintained its stance on not traveling to Pakistan. Last year, Team India managed to relocate its matches for the Asia Cup 2023 to Sri Lanka, despite pressure from the PCB.

PCB Proposed That India Could Return Home After Each Match

According to a report in the Indian Express, the Pakistan Cricket Board proposed that India could return home after each match during the Champions Trophy to ensure security. However, the final decision on this matter has not been made by the ICC.

Since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan players, international cricket had been suspended in Pakistan. Teams like England and Bangladesh have toured. The last time India visited Pakistan for a bilateral series was in 2006, when the Indian team, led by Rahul Dravid, won a 5-match ODI series 4-1.

S Jaishankar Traveled to Pakistan for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit

There was hope for cricketing ties between India and Pakistan following a recent meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad last month.

The meeting was the first high-level direct conversation between the two nations since 2015. Following this positive interaction, there were speculations about India traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Pakistan's Interior Minister and PCB Chairman were reportedly involved in the discussions.

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