Govt. recommends India not to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy
India has decided not to send its cricket team to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy, following advice from the Indian government, ESPNcricinfo has reported.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian government has recommended against the team’s participation in the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
As a result, the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will now need to implement a contingency plan, likely involving a hybrid model where teams would travel between Pakistan and another venue. However, this is not a straightforward solution, as PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dismissed the possibility of a hybrid model on Friday, stating that no discussions about it had taken place.
Sources suggest that multiple contingency options had been considered in advance, including the UAE, given its proximity to Pakistan. Sri Lanka is also said to be on the shortlist of potential host venues.
ESPNcricinfo reported that BCCI’s position has been communicated to the ICC earlier this week, although it has not been confirmed whether this was done verbally or in writing.
“It is believed the ICC is waiting for official written communication before informing the PCB. Naqvi emphasised on Friday that the PCB would require any objections from the BCCI in writing, and that he would consult with his government before making any final decisions,” the ESPNcricinfo reported.
PCB President had pointed to Pakistan’s “great gestures”, such as sending their team to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, despite India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which ultimately adopted a hybrid model with the tournament’s latter stages held in Sri Lanka. Naqvi also made it clear that Pakistan’s future travel to India would depend on government approval.
The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams—Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa—with two groups of four followed by the semi-finals and a final. With the tournament now just 100 days away, the schedule and ticketing details are yet to be finalised.