ICC Champions Trophy 2025: ECB chiefs indirectly back India to play tournament outside Pakistan

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is seeking clarity on the arrangements for the ICC's upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said that the Champions Trophy without India is not an option, adding that broadcast rights need to be protected.

Pakistan is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9 next year. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi will host the matches in the ICC tournament. However, India has not played an international match on Pakistani soil since 2008. India last visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

It Would Not Be In Cricket's Interests For India - Richard Thompson

ECB chairman Richard Thompson stated that it would not be beneficial for cricket if India didn't visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Thompson acknowledged ongoing security concerns surrounding matches between India and Pakistan, but they have to find a way.

"It would not be in cricket's interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy. It's interesting, with Jay Shah - the former secretary of the BCCI and now chair of the ICC - [who] is going to have a big role to play in that. There's geopolitics, and then there's cricketing geopolitics. I think they'll find a way. They have to find a way," Thompson said.

"There are always security concerns in this part of the world when those two countries play each other. That will probably drive the key decisions. But I know relationships between the two countries are as amicable as they can be at the moment: we saw it play out at the [men's T20] World Cup in New York."

The Broadcast Rights Aren't There - Richard Gould

Richard Gould and Richard Thompson are currently in Pakistan ahead of upcoming ICC meetings and have been discussing with PCB officials in Multan during England's second Test match.

Gould said that broadcast rights are a crucial revenue source, adding that the tournament would be impacted without India or Pakistan. He pointed out that the ICC must protect these rights. Gould mentioned that discussions are ongoing about India's potential participation.

"If you play the Champions Trophy without India, or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them," Gould said.

"They [Pakistan] are the host nation. We've seen the developments going on, and we're all waiting to understand whether India are going to travel. That's the key. We think there are some discussions and relationships where they need to be. I know Pakistan are expecting India to travel. There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn't happen."

Pakistan Wants To Host Entire Champions Trophy On Home Soil

The PCB remains on its stance for the Champions Trophy to take place entirely in Pakistan. The official schedule hasn't been released yet, but the PCB has submitted a draft schedule that the tournament will be played in February and March, with all of India's matches scheduled to be hosted in Lahore.

The BCCI didn't send a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year due to ongoing tensions between the two nations. The PCB hosted the tournament in a hybrid format with India's matches in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Pakistan visited India for the ODI World Cup 2023, where they failed to reach the semi-finals.

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