Will India go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy? ICC receives BCCI's reply

Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will host the ICC Champions Trophy from 19 February to 9 March in the year 2025. Preparations are in full swing in Pakistan for this event, but its schedule has not been officially announced yet. The main reason for this is the uncertainty of the Indian team playing in Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear to the ICC that they have received instructions from the Government of India that the Indian team will not be sent to play matches in Pakistan. With this answer of BCCI, the situation regarding the tournament has become somewhat clear.

Refusal to tour Pakistan and option of hybrid model

The BCCI has refused to send Team India to Pakistan following the guidelines of the Government of India. In such a situation, the ICC has the option of conducting the tournament in a hybrid model, as was adopted during the Asia Cup in 2023. At that time the Indian team played its matches in Sri Lanka instead of Pakistan. However, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has recently ruled out this option and said that all the matches of the tournament will be held in Pakistan.

Possibility of India's matches being held in UAE or Sri Lanka

After BCCI's decision, there is a possibility that the Indian team may play its matches in the ICC Champions Trophy at some other place instead of Pakistan. For this, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Sri Lanka may be selected. UAE is being considered a more favorable place due to its geographical proximity to the two countries.

Possible delay in announcement of schedule

The ICC usually announces the schedule of the tournament 100 days in advance, but in the case of the Champions Trophy, this process may be delayed due to the deadlock between India and Pakistan. The schedule announcement on November 11, 100 days before the start of the tournament, may now be postponed for some time.

Thus, the effect of political and diplomatic situations between India and Pakistan is also being seen on the cricket field. If the hybrid model is adopted, it will be a new challenge for the tournament, trying to balance the ongoing situation between the two countries.