BCCI asks ICC to shift India’s CT matches from Pakistan to neutral venues – Kashmir Observer

New Delhi- The Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and will approach the International Cricket Council with a request to hold the matches in Sri Lanka or Dubai, a BCCI source told ANI.

The ICC Champions Trophy will be held next year from February to March 2025 in Pakistan. Since the Asia Cup in 2008, India has not played any cricket tournament in Pakistan due to strained relations between the two countries.

The bilateral series from December 2012 to January 2013 in India also marked the last bilateral series between the two nations. Since then, the two nations have only clashed at the ICC and Asia Cup tournaments.

India’s participation in the upcoming event raises uncertainty due to the relations between the two countries.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has proposed that India play all of its matches in one city. ESPNcricinfo reported that Lahore has been chosen as the venue where India will play all of its matches. However, the Indian board is not keen on the prospect of travelling to Pakistan.

Referring to India’s participation in the BCCI, a source told ANI, “India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. They will inform the ICC to hold their matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka.”

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla had said in May that the Indian team would be sent to the tournament in Pakistan only if the central government allows it.

Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, “For the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Indian government tells us to do. We will send our team only if the Indian government allows us to do so. So, we will follow the decision of the Indian government.”

A similar situation occurred during last year’s Asian Cup, which was to be held in Pakistan.

However, the PCB was forced to adopt a hybrid strategy during last year’s Asia Cup as all India’s matches – including those against Pakistan – were held in Sri Lanka.

The final of the tournament, which India won, was held in Colombo. Although Pakistan had hinted at the possibility of using a hybrid approach to participate in the ODI World Cup in India the previous year, it was never given any consideration.

Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, last held in 2017.

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