India all set to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025? BCCI source drops massive statement

India National Cricket Team are unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As per the reports in IANS, it is learned that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) isn't keen on sending a team to Pakistan due to the relations between the two nations.

As per the reports, it is learned that Champions Trophy 2025 might get shifted or a hybrid model will be used to stage the tournament that will be played in Pakistan, in February. The source also claimed that there is very little chance that the two teams will be locking horns with each other in the bilateral series.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently made a statement, saying that if India sends their team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 then they would think about a bilateral series with India. The two nations last played in a series against each other in 2012-13.

However, a source close to BCCI said that there is no chance of India playing a bilateral series against Pakistan. He made a bold claim, saying that they are even doubtful of going to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. A source told IANS:

"Forget bilateral series...Team India may not even travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. There might be a change of venue, s hybrid model is also possible."

The BCCI source further added that the governing body will need permission from the government to travel to India, which is unlikely to happen. He admitted that the Champions Trophy is an ICC event and it will be tough for them to make the decision but without the government's signal nothing would happen. He added:

"The Indian board would need permission from the government for travel, currently our relations with Pakistan are not that good either. The Champions Trophy is an ICC event, so it would be a tough call for India but nothing without the government's order/green signal. Bilateral series, I don't see in the near future, that's next to impossible.”

There could be a possibility of a hybrid model as well. The same happened during the Asia Cup 2023 when the India team didn't travel to Pakistan and the tournament was played in Sri Lanka and Pakistan with India playing games in the island nation.

I think it will be a great contest between the two sides - Rohit Sharma on a bilateral series with Pakistan

Recently, Rohit Sharma opened up about his desire to play the bilateral series with Pakistan. He said that he would love to play against the arch-rivals and he enjoys playing pure cricket. Speaking on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast, he said:

"I would love to. At the end of the day, we want to be in the contest. I think it will be a great contest between the two sides. We anyway play them in the ICC tournaments. So, it doesn’t even matter.

"I am only interested in pure cricket. I am not looking at anything else. It’s just pure cricket. A battle between bat and ball. It will be a great contest so why not.”

India and Pakistan will be up against each other in the T20 World Cup 2024. The two teams will be locking horns with each other in New York on June 9. However, after that, it will be time for the Champions Trophy and it remains to be seen if India will go to Pakistan or not.