Eight teams will be participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy: it will have two groups of four. The teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The official schedule and ticketing information remain unsigned. But one of the most important information that comes in is that India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy that will be held next year.
India Will Not Travel To Pakistan
The BCCI has clearly communicated to the ICC that India will not be visiting Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. And that advice, it has now emerged, came from the Indian government, which believes it would be prudent not to send the national team to Pakistan. The Champions Trophy, to be held at three venues in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, will now mean that the ICC and the PCB will have to explore contingency plans, possibly through a hybrid model in which teams take a turn playing in Pakistan and playing elsewhere.
Mohsin Naqvi Dismisses The Idea Of Hybrid Model
But PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had dismissed the idea of a hybrid model saying that no such discussion happened. ESPNcricinfo has learned that months back some contingency options were discussed, in case this situation were to befall. Among the three, the nearest to Pakistan, is likely to be UAE, with Sri Lanka too finding its place in the list of potential hosts.
This past week, the BCCI stance has been conveyed to the ICC, though it is not clear if it was a formal or an informal communication. The PCB may be waiting for a formal written confirmation from the ICC before they are introduced to this news. Naqvi explained on Friday that for the matter to be reached by the Pakistani government, the BCCI would have to officially, in writing, voice an objection.
ESPNcricinfo has approached the ICC, PCB, and the BCCI for official comments on the issue.
‘Don’t Expect Good Gestures From Us Everytime’
In the video that is getting widely circulated The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi stood firm with his stance and mentioned it clearly that “Politics should not come in between the game”
I endorse PCB Chairman words by words
— Azam-K (@Azamk555) November 8, 2024
“ Do not expect good gesture from pakistan every time.” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi
Those – who are propagating that PCB accept hybrid model – must listen this video. #championstrophy2025 #PakistanCricket
pic.twitter.com/GcOFZNE1xx
“Whatever our government decides I’ll be sticking to that, Pakistan has been showing good and humble gestures over the years but this can’t happen every time”
“We are expecting that ICC will announce the schedule soon”
“I am very positive and I want politics to not be mixed with cricket no matter the country, even if there are tensions and disagreements, the game should never be affected.”
“Every country wants Champions Trophy to happen in Pakistan, they are looking forward to play here, so I think that nobody should get involved in politics and let the tournament happen here”
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“Every team will get proper facilities and security”
Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan participating in multiple ICC events hosted by India, including the 2023 World Cup. Since then, the two countries have only played one bilateral series, a white-ball tour in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India.
