Jay Shah issues an official statement on BCCI's stance for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah recently discussed the Indian team's potential travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Jay Shah highlighted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has no official stance on traveling to the neighboring country at the moment.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy 2025 to Pakistan.

A total of eight teams will feature in the tournament, which is scheduled to be played from February to March next year. The 50-over event is reportedly set to be played from February 19 to March 9.

However, the Indian team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue haven't traveled to Pakistan in the last 16 years and also did not travel for the Asia Cup 2023.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had to host the Asia Cup in a hybrid model, with Sri Lanka as a co-host for the event.

India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Pakistan last visited India for a bilateral series in 2012-13. Since then, the teams have not played each other due to strained relations. Reports suggest a hybrid model might be used for the Champions Trophy 2025, with Sri Lanka or the UAE as co-hosts.

No Stand As Of Now - Jay Shah

When asked whether India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, Jay Shah said that there is no official stance as of now. Shah stated that the decision will be made closer to the event.

"No stand as of now. We will cross the bridge when it comes," Jay Shah was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Foreign teams have visited Pakistan for series in the recent past. However, New Zealand canceled their 2021 tour before the ODI series due to security fears. England also withdrew from their scheduled tour to Pakistan later that year.

Pakistan Will Enter Tournament As Defending Champions

The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy will feature eight teams. The teams qualified based on their performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Group A includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan are part of Group B in the tournament.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the final. The tournament last took place in 2017, when Pakistan defeated India in the final to claim their first Champions Trophy title.

Australia is the only team to have won the Champions Trophy outright twice, in 2006 and 2010. India shared the 2002 title with Sri Lanka due to a washed-out final and won the coveted trophy in 2013. South Africa (1998), New Zealand (2000), and the West Indies (2004) won the Champions Trophy once.

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