Indian government denies Rohit Sharma-led team India to travel to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly decided against Team India's participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. According to the latest news reports, the Rohit Sharma-led team will not travel to the neighboring country for next year's ICC tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly submitted its draft proposal for the Champions Trophy. The match between India and Pakistan will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 1. However, it remains uncertain whether India will officially confirm their participation in the ICC event.

Pakistan is set to host a major cricket event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. The tournament is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, and the dates will be confirmed later. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan will feature in the event.

India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral series since 2012-13 due to strained relations. The two teams meet in Asia Cups and ICC events. They last faced off in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, where the Rohit Sharma-led team secured a thrilling six-run victory over Pakistan.

India Cricket Team Unlikely To Travel To Pakistan For ICC Champions Trophy 2025- Report

According to a report from news agency ANI, the BCCI wants to play their Champions Trophy matches in either Sri Lanka or Dubai instead of Pakistan. It is reported that the BCCI plans to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider these alternative venues.

"Indian Cricket team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. BCCI will ask ICC to host matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka," BCCI sources to ANI.

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According to Sportstar, "BCCI will formally convey the decision about not travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 in the ICC meeting next week at Colombo."

Speaking to the ANI in May, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla stated that India would participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan only if approved by the Indian government. He emphasized that the BCCI adheres to government directives regarding the team's participation in international tournaments.

"In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India permits us. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government," Shukla said.

The PCB had to adopt a hybrid strategy during last year's Asia Cup. All of India's matches, including those against Pakistan, were moved to Sri Lanka. The final was held in Colombo, where India secured victory. Pakistan had considered a similar approach for the ODI World Cup in India, but it didn't materialize.

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