Pakistan Foreign Ministry issues an official statement on Indian Government denying team India the permission for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

While the highly-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just a handful of months away, there is still no confirmation over whether India will visit Pakistan or not.

Pakistan have the hosting rights for the competition next year and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is determined to host the entire competition on home soil.

As per media reports, the PCB has already submitted the draft schedule of the competition to the ICC. According to the schedule, India are likely to be based in one city for the entire tournament.

However, the schedule could undergo a significant change if India continues to boycott Pakistan. The bilateral relationship between the two teams is currently suspended due to political tension and things are not very promising at the moment.

India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 and even if BCCI decides to send the team to the other side of the order, it will have to take the permission of the government.

Amidst all these, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson has taken a dig at Indian politicians. The Spokesperson said that sports should not be damaged due to political reasons stating that politicians in India have a habit of blaming Pakistan.

Pakistan official statement on the Indian government denying permission for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

"Sports should not be damaged! Indian politicians have a habit of blaming Pakistan. India filed terrorism cases against Kashmiris who raised pro-Palestine slogans which is very irresponsible behavior of India," said the Spokesperson.

🚨 Spokesperson Foreign Office (Pakistan) on CHAMPIONS TROPHY - "Sports should not be damaged! Indian politicians have a habit of blaming Pakistan. India filed terrorism cases against Kashmiris who raised pro-Palestine slogans which is very irresponsible behavior of India." #CT25

— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) July 19, 2024

All eyes are now on the BCCI who will have to obtain permission from the Indian government to send the Indian team to Pakistan. However, it won't be very surprising if the government denies BCCI permission to send the team across the border due to security reasons.

In that case, the ICC might come up with a model similar to last year's Asia Cup. Pakistan had the hosting rights for that competition. However, the ACC had to come up with a hybrid model and India played all of their games in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Cricket Board asks for written proof from BCCI:

Meanwhile, the PCB has reportedly asked for written proof from the BCCI if the Indian government does not permit the board to send Team India to Pakistan. As per reports, the PCB wants the matter to be sorted quickly so that they can begin their final preparations for the tournament.

"If the Indian government declines permission, it has to be in writing and it is mandatory on the BCCI to provide that letter to the ICC now," a PCB source recently told the PTI.

"It is a fact that we are insistent that the BCCI must inform the ICC about its travel plans to Pakistan at least 5-6 months before the tournament and in writing," added the source.