Major doubts over Team India's Champions Trophy 2025 participation as PCB continues preparations for marquee event
Published - 05 Jul 2024, 04:30 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hellbent on hosting the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year, it is still unclear if Team India will be visiting the neighbors.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade now due to the political tension between the two nations. India had suspended the bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan in 2008 following the terrorist attack in Mumbai. In the 2012-13 season, Pakistan had visited India for a short limited-overs series but the arch-rivals have only played against each other in the Asia Cup and the ICC competitions since then.
Pakistan do have the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy next year and the preparations are in full swing at the moment. However, there is little clarity over BCCI's stance on India's visit to the country, according to a report in the Times of India.
Pakistan had the hosting rights for the Asia Cup as well last year. However, India did not cross the border for the tournament as the BCCI failed to get the green light from the BCCI. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had to come up with a hybrid model and India played all of their games in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan prepare for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Even though India's stance on traveling to Pakistan remains unclear, the PCB is leaving no stone unturned to prepare for the tournament. The PCB has already prepared the draft schedule. As per media reports, India are likely to play all of their games in one city, that is Lahore due to logistical and security reasons.
The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is also being renovated for the marquee event next year which is likely to take place from February 19 to March 5. The PCB is confident of other teams' participation in the Champions Trophy on Pakistani soil and is hopeful that India will also visit the country next year.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi recently stated that the tournament will be held entirely in Pakistan and also hinted that India are likely to play in the competition. Meanwhile, the upcoming tournament will mark the return of the Champions Trophy which was last played in 2017. The ICC had scrapped the 8-team competition before reversing its decision.
