Team India will reportedly not travel across the border for the ICC tournament.
There is a lot of speculation around Team India’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, slated to be held in Pakistan early next year.
The cricket boards of both nations have stayed mum on this matter, but rumours are rife that the Men in Blue won't be travelling to Pakistan for the marquee event.
On Tuesday (October 8), a report published in The Telegraph UK claimed that India’s matches in the Champions Trophy could be moved out of Pakistan, including the final, if they qualify.
The title clash may be moved out of Lahore and be held in Dubai, the report added. With the final scheduled on March 9, it may be till March 6 for the venue to be confirmed.
If India reaches the semi-finals, that match could also be staged outside of Pakistan. Besides Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are being considered to host games on short notice as well.
However, PCB was quick to refute such claims, emphasizing its commitment to successfully hosting the entire Champions Trophy within its territory.
According to Dunya News, the Pakistan board in a strong statement said, “Despite the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the PCB remains steadfast in its stance to ensure a successful and uninterrupted tournament.”
"There is absolutely no truth to the reports suggesting that the Champions Trophy final could be moved outside Pakistan. We are working diligently to ensure that all preparations for the tournament are on track, and we are confident that Pakistan will be able to host a memorable event," it added.
The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have been fraught with political and security issues since the 2008 Mumbai attack.
While the arch-rivals last played a limited-overs series in 2012, their last meeting in Tests was way back in 2007. In this period, they've only clashed in multi-nation tournaments such as the World Cup and the Asia Cup.
Earlier, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla had stated that the final call about India travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will be taken by the Indian government.
Notably, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but India played all of their matches in Sri Lanka under a 'hybrid model'.