Last Updated on 5 months by Charbel Coorey
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held entirely in Pakistan. In a report in Pakistan media outlet Express News, Naqvi said the PCB is not interested in a hybrid model for the tournament.
The report stated, “PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear to the ICC that Pakistan will host the 2025 Champions Trophy, and there will be no hybrid model. It’s ICC’s responsibility to bring India to Pakistan for the event, and not PCB’s task.”
There has been no official statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the matter. However, India have kept their stance solid over the years with regards to travel to Pakistan. In 2023, the Asia Cup was shared between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with India playing their matches in the Island nation.
With regards to whether India travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, India’s Ministry of External Affairs is expected to make the final call. Should they choose not to travel, the ball will then be in the International Cricket Council’s court. A tournament without India would be a big financial hit for the ICC given the revenue they generate.
BCCI unlikely to send India to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy – report
According to an ANI report, a BCCI source claimed that India would not be travelling to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The report states the BCCI will ask the ICC to shift matches to the UAE (likely Dubai) or Sri Lanka.
Also, Gautam Gambhir, India’s new coach, has previously supported India’s political stance against Pakistan, making it all the more unlikely that the team will play its matches in the neighbouring country.
India have not played in Pakistan since 2008. An attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 put a halt to international cricket in Pakistan for six years. Since then, only India and Ireland have not played a series in Pakistan among Test playing nations.
