Pakistan Cricket Board proposes an IND vs PAK T20I bilateral series amidst Champions Trophy 2025 tussle

India and Pakistan are once again against each other in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After refusing to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet again denied sending the Indian cricket team to the neighboring country for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

Political tensions between Pakistan and India have prevented the two countries from engaging in a bilateral series since 2012, with the Indian government directing the BCCI not to send the Men in Blue to the neighboring country for any type of cricketing ties. Thus, fans get to witness India versus Pakistan encounters only in the ICC or ACC events, not in Pakistan.

ICC’s annual meet to decide the fate of Champions Trophy 2025 amid India-Pakistan dispute

Currently, there is an ongoing debate about whether the Indian cricket team will travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2024, as reports are rife that the BCCI is reluctant to send the team for the mega event as the government is not giving clearance for the same.

This is one of the major agenda items to be discussed at the ICC’s annual conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the possibility of shifting the Champions Trophy 2025 matches to another country, although with an increased budget.

Last year, the Asia Cup was hosted in a hybrid model with Pakistan and Sri Lanka sharing the matches, but this time, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly stated they won’t agree to the hybrid model and want to host all matches in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is presently in Colombo, and he is set to meet BCCI Secretary Jay Shah to convince him to send Team India to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in February-March. However, the PCB acknowledged that the final decision rests with the Indian government, not the BCCI.

PCB to discuss T20I series with BCCI during ICC meet in Sri Lanka

According to Cricket Pakistan, senior PCB officials, before leaving for Sri Lanka, have reportedly admitted that they will invite India for a T20I series at a neutral venue next year. It is also being suggested that the PCB chief discuss this proposal with the BCCI secretary during the ICC meeting, suggesting that matches could be scheduled during the free window for both teams after the Champions Trophy 2025.

Naqvi is also scheduled to meet with senior officials from other cricket boards to discuss arrangements and security for the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025. Except for India, no other country has expressed reservations about touring Pakistan for the upcoming mega event, and the PCB remains hopeful that all teams will participate.

In addition, the PCB has reportedly purchased a plot close to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to construct a five-star hotel. Discussions with major hotel chains are ongoing, with one proposal recommending that the PCB itself construct the hotel.

PCB’s project will be completed in a couple of years, aiming to avoid the teams staying in distant hotels and get rid of ending road closures for security. After the completion of this project, only the area next to Gaddafi Stadium will be closed during the matches.