The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly denied receiving an official proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the Champions Trophy 2025.
There has been a lot of speculation over India's participation because the government has not stated whether the team will travel to Pakistan or not. According to media sources, the PCB has recommended a strategy for the Indian cricket squad to return to Delhi or Chandigarh after each game due to security concerns.
However, Dainik Jagran reported a BCCI insider adding that the BCCI had not received any such suggestion from the PCB as of yet and that the choice is entirely up to the Indian government.
India and Pakistan have not played a single bilateral series in over a decade due to political tensions and the only time they face each other is during international tournaments. Pakistan traveled to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
But India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023, leading the ACC to host India’s matches in Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is mentally prepared for India's reluctance to go to the country for the Champions Trophy, but the tournament's title clash will remain in Lahore even if the arch-rivals qualify for the final on March 9, according to reports on Friday.
The PCB's position on hosting the final will be debated when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meets in Dubai from October 18 to 21.
"The PCB's first choice and priority is to host the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan and they are counting on this but internally the Board is also mentally prepared to hear about the Indian government not allowing its team to play in Pakistan and India's matches being held in UAE.
But the PCB has decided even in the event of India not playing in Pakistan they want the final to be held in Lahore. Even if India qualifies for the final the PCB wants the ICC to hold the match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore," a PCB source stated.
The BCCI may seek that the ICC stage the tournament in a hybrid style, with matches relocated to either Sri Lanka or Dubai, as was done with the Asia Cup last year.
(PTI inputs)
