ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi throws another dice for BCCI and team India

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Federal Interior Minister, assured a brisk visa process for Indian fans for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Mohsin Naqvi's statement was made during a meeting with Sikh pilgrims from the United States of America (USA).

Team India has not yet confirmed whether its cricket team will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that the Indian government will make the final decision. India last visited neighboring country to play cricket in 2008 for the Asia Cup.

We Will Be Keeping A Special Quota Of Tickets - Mohsin Naqvi

As Pakistan prepares to host an ICC event for the first time since 1996, Mohsin Naqvi promised Indian fans a smooth experience for attending live matches. He announced a special quota of tickets for Indian fans and the visa issuance policy to be brisk. Naqvi is confident that this initiative would attract Indians.

"We will be keeping a special quota of tickets for Indian fans and we will try to make the visa issuance policy brisk," Naqvi said, according to a report from Hindustan Times.

Notably, there are travel restrictions between India and Pakistan for citizens of both countries. Many Pakistani fans could not attend the 2023 World Cup in India due to security concerns. Mohsin Naqvi hoped for Indian fans to visit the neighboring country to watch the match between India and Pakistan.

Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been picked to host matches, but the official schedule for the event is still pending. The tournament is set to start on February 19 and conclude with the final on March 9, 2025. ICC awaits confirmation from the BCCI regarding its cricket team's travel to Pakistan.

The Indian Team Should Come -Mohsin Naqvi

The PCB is hopeful about Team India's participation in the Champions Trophy. Naqvi is confident that they will come to Pakistan and stated that he does not foresee any cancellations or postponements.

“The Indian team should come. I don’t see them cancel or postpone coming here, and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Naqvi stated.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Without Powerhouse India Is Not An Option

Officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including Chairman Richard Thompson, have discussed the impact of India potentially not participating in the Champions Trophy. They believe that hosting the Champions Trophy without such a strong team as India is not feasible commercially.

The 2023 Asia Cup was set to take place in Pakistan but was played in a hybrid format, with Team India competing in Sri Lanka. India emerged victorious during last year's Asia Cup final. The Champions Trophy was last played in 2017, where Pakistan secured a victory against India in the final.

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