Indian cricket board unlikely to send Indian team to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025: ANI Report
There is significant speculation about India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
India has not toured Pakistan since 2008 due to political tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Although the cricket boards of both nations have remained silent on this matter, a report from ANI suggests that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC tournament.
Sources have indicated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the matches to Dubai or Sri Lanka.
The 2023 Asia Cup, initially planned to be hosted entirely in Pakistan, was conducted in a hybrid model with India playing their matches in Sri Lanka due to government restrictions on travel to Pakistan.
According to the current schedule, Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9 next year. Teams eligible for the competition include Pakistan, India, Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Afghanistan.
Reports suggest that India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan.
This eight-nation tournament will be a significant cricket event in Pakistan, which last co-hosted the World Cup with India and Sri Lanka in 1996.
However, India’s participation will depend on approval from the central government.
Before the Champions Trophy, India is scheduled to play six ODIs – three in an away series against Sri Lanka and three at home against England.