The vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla has given an update on whether India will go to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 or not.
The ICC Champions Trophy, which was last played in 2017, will return when Pakistan hosts it in February-March 2025.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have significantly impacted cricketing relations between the two nations since 2008, following the Asia Cup. Bilateral series between India and Pakistan have been suspended since 2012-13. The teams now clash only in ICC and ACC events like the World Cups and Asia Cup.
India last traveled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup and since then, the Men in Blue have not set foot in the neighboring country, though Pakistan came to India for T20 World Cup 2016 and World Cup 2023.
The decision to send the Indian squad to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy is based on several reasons, including the current political and security situation between the two countries.
Given the history of tense relations and security concerns, any decision on India's participation will be carefully considered and discussed with appropriate authorities.
Hence, Rajeev Shukla said that India going to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy is contingent upon receiving approval from the central government.
"In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India gives us permission. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government,” Rajeev Shukla told ANI.
When India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, the PCB had to resort to a hybrid model with India playing its games in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted four matches.
Pakistan is doing whatever it can to ensure India travels to their shores, as reportedly they have designated Lahore as the sole venue for India’s matches to cut out travel and make better security preparations.
According to ESPNcricinfo, PCB has locked three locations--Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi--to host the two-week Champions Trophy.
