Team India Will Not Go to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy: BCCI to Appeal to ICC for Matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka
The Indian team will not travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate India’s matches to either Dubai or Sri Lanka instead of Pakistan.
This information has been reported by news agency ANI, citing sources within the BCCI. The BCCI has not yet issued an official statement on this matter.
Last year, India also did not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. During that time, India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka.
PCB Proposes Lahore for All Indian Matches in Champions Trophy 2025
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed to host all Indian matches in Lahore. The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9 next year, with March 10 reserved as a backup day for the final. The PCB has already sent a draft of the 15-match tournament to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC will approve the schedule only after obtaining consent from the boards of the eight participating teams.
Pakistan is set to face its biggest rival, India, in Lahore on March 1. However, the BCCI has yet to give its consent for this match. A senior member of the ICC board shared this information with PTI on Wednesday.
This will be the first time since 1996 that Pakistan will host a major ICC tournament. However, the PCB did organize the entire Asia Cup in 2008, and some matches of the Asia Cup were also held in Pakistan last year.
PCB Chairman Finalizes 15-Match Schedule for Champions Trophy 2025
According to reports, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has sent a 15-match schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025 to the ICC. For security reasons, all of India’s matches are to be held in Lahore.
An ICC board member stated, “The PCB has submitted the draft schedule for the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven matches will be held in Lahore, three in Karachi, and five in Rawalpindi.
The opening match will take place in Karachi, while the two semifinals will be hosted in Karachi and Rawalpindi. Additionally, the final match will be played in Lahore, and if Team India reaches the semifinals, that match will also be held in Lahore.”
Eight Teams Divided into Two Groups
India has been placed in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Group B includes Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan.
After a security team recently inspected the venues and other arrangements, ICC Events Chief Chris Tetley met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad.
Asia Cup Matches Held in Sri Lanka at India’s Request
Last year, Pakistan was also the host for the Asia Cup. When India did not travel to Pakistan, the tournament was held under a ‘hybrid model’. The match against India was played in Sri Lanka. In the final match held in Colombo, the Indian team defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win the championship.
Pakistan to Host ICC Event for the First Time Since 1996
According to media reports, the PCB has submitted the draft of the tournament venues to the ICC. The tournament is scheduled to be held in February-March next year.
This is the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup that Pakistan has been given the opportunity to host an ICC event. The upcoming graphics will show which countries are set to host ICC tournaments from 2024 to 2031.
