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The upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy faces a significant hurdle as India has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that they will not be travelling to Pakistan for the tournament. This decision stems from the Indian government advising the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against sending the team to Pakistan, highlighting the ongoing political tensions between the two nations. The eight-team tournament, scheduled to be held between February 19 and March 9, was originally planned to take place at three venues in Pakistan. However, India's withdrawal necessitates the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to implement a contingency plan, likely involving a hybrid model where matches are played in both Pakistan and a second location. This change in plan will require significant adjustments as the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had initially ruled out the hybrid model, asserting that no discussions regarding it had occurred. Despite this initial stance, ESPNcricinfo reports that various contingency plans had been developed months ago in anticipation of a potential hybrid model adoption.
The UAE, due to its close proximity to Pakistan, is considered the leading contender for the second venue. Sri Lanka is another potential location. While the ICC was informed of the BCCI's decision earlier this week, confirmation regarding written communication remains unclear. The PCB, however, had insisted on receiving any objections from the BCCI in writing before making a final decision, requiring consultation with the Pakistani government. Naqvi's previous stance on the matter had been less definitive, but on Friday, he expressed that the PCB was not willing to accept the hybrid model. He alluded to the PCB's prior gesture of sending their team to India for the ODI World Cup in 2023, despite India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the preceding Asia Cup, which eventually adopted a hybrid model with the latter stages hosted in Sri Lanka. He also emphasized that any future travels to India by Pakistan would be subject to governmental approval.
The Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams divided into two groups of four, is set to culminate in semi-finals and a final. The participating teams include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The tournament's schedule and ticketing details are yet to be announced, and a planned schedule-announcement event in Lahore next week is likely to be postponed due to the recent developments. The strained political relations between India and Pakistan have prevented India from travelling to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan hosting several ICC events in India, including the 2023 World Cup. The two nations have played only one bilateral series since then, a white-ball tour undertaken by Pakistan in 2012-13. This ongoing impasse underscores the complex political landscape that continues to impact international sporting events and the delicate balancing act required to navigate such situations.
Source: India will not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy