ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played in Pakistan from February 9 onwards.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) officials are reportedly trying to urge the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. Pakistan is to host the tournament in February and March next year in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
However, a spanner has been put into things as ICC conveyed to the PCB that BCCI had confirmed that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 and they would prefer to play their games at a neutral venue, either UAE or Sri Lanka.
However, Pakistan, who are hosting their first big ICC event since the 1996 World Cup, is adamant that the Champions Trophy will be played in Pakistan only, given the investment they have made in renovating their stadiums for the same.
They also said that it is time for BCCI to reciprocate as PCB sent the Pakistan team to India for the 2023 World Cup and previously for the 2016 T20 World Cup as well.
As per reports, and sources, backchannel discussions are taking place to help PCB comprehend why the hybrid model is the best option for the competition and why the Indian cricket team is essential to the ICC tournament.
According to the sources, senior ICC officials are also attempting to persuade Pakistan to refrain from criticizing India.
The timetable for the Champions Trophy next year is being discussed with the host Pakistan and other participating nations, and it should be released in a few days, the sources continued.
The sources also confirmed that India will not be playing their matches in Pakistan and their matches will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Geo News, the PCB wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ask for an explanation for India's decision not to go to Pakistan to compete in the ICC Champions Trophy the next year.
Citing "security concerns," India stated that it would not be traveling for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and played their last bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, a white-ball series, and now mostly play in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup.
(ANI inputs)