Jay Shah confirmed India's participation in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan? PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi finally reveals

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has insisted the highly-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will 'only be played in Pakistan'.

While Pakistan does have the hosting rights for the competition, there is a chance that the tournament will be moved outside because of its poor relations with India. The bilateral relationship between the two teams is suspended and BCCI will need the Indian government's permission to send the Indian team to Pakistan.

With the political relations between India and Pakistan not promising at the moment, it won't be surprising if the BCCI fails to get the green light from the government. India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 while the last bilateral series between them took place way back in 2012-13. Since then, they have only played against each other in ICC competitions and the Asia Cup.

Last year, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to come up with a unique hybrid model for the Asia Cup as India refused to travel to Pakistan. As a result, the tournament was played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka with India playing all of their games in the island nation. 

Recent reports state that the ICC could also come up with a similar solution but Mohsin Naqvi is confident that the entire competition will be held in Pakistan. He also said that while he won't make any comment on the Indian team at the moment, there will be good news regarding India's visit to Pakistan. 

"Champions Trophy 2025 will only be played in Pakistan. I will not comment on the Indian Cricket Team but insha'Allah we will hear good news regarding India's visit to Pakistan," said Mohsin Naqvi.

🚨 Champions Trophy only in Pakistan!

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi - " Champions Trophy 2025 will only be played in Pakistan. I will not comment on Indian Cricket Team but insha'Allah we will hear good news regarding India's visit to Pakistan!" #CT25

— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) July 4, 2024

ICC Champions Trophy returns after 8 years:

The upcoming Champions Trophy marks the return of the competition after a gap of 8 years. In 2018, the ICC scrapped the eight-team ODI competition but has decided to restart it from next year. The last edition of the Champions Trophy was played in England. Pakistan won the tournament by beating arch-rivals India in the final.

The ICC Champions Trophy was started in 1998 and so far, eight editions of the competition have been played. Australia and India are the only two teams to win the competition more than once. While they have won the tournament twice each, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies have won it once each. In 2002, India and Sri Lanka had shared the trophy.