Shoaib Malik, former Pakistan captain, has requested the Indian team to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. The tournament is slated to be played in February-March next year as per the draft schedule given to ICC by PCB.

However, BCCI has not confirmed whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the tournament, despite PCB arranging all of their matches in Lahore itself. India is slated to clash with Pakistan on March 1.

India has not traveled to Pakistan for any international match since 2008 when they played the Asia Cup in the neighboring country. The BCCI has always taken the stand that it is up to the Indian government to grant permission for Team India to travel to Pakistan for international cricket.

Malik underlined the significance of keeping politics and sports distinct, stating that any bilateral concerns between India and Pakistan should be addressed independently of their cricketing activities.

"Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that's a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn't come into sports. The Pakistan team went to India last year, and now it's a good opportunity for the Indian team too. I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven't played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. Hum bahut acche log hai (we are good people). We're very hospitable people, so I'm sure the Indian team should definitely come," Malik told Cricket Pakistan in an interview.

It has also been suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to request to ICC to shift their matches of the Champions Trophy to a venue like the UAE or Sri Lanka.