New Delhi: Will Indian cricket team take part in Champions Trophy 2025 or not? This question has been there for more than a month and continues to remain unanswered. Meanwhile, some of the top officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have said that the showpiece ICC event cannot take place without India featuring in it.
ECB chairman Richard Thompson and some other members of the board have suggested that staging the showpiece event without powerhouse India is not an option and there are “contingencies available” if Rohit Sharma’s team doesn’t travel to host country Pakistan. India have not played in Pakistan since 2008 due to tense political relations between the two nations and their travel to the country is only dependent on the clearance from government.
Government unlikely to give permission
Government of India will not give the BCCI permission to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the event as the tensions between the two countries continue to exist. In such a scenario, the only option which remains there is the application of the hybrid model. Much like the Asia Cup last year, Team India can play their games in a third country while the other matches can be staged in Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to be held in February-March 2025.
ECB biggies speak
“It’s interesting, with Jay Shah – the former secretary of the BCCI and now chair of the ICC – (who) is going to have a big role to play in that. There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. I think they’ll find a way. They have to find a way,” said Thompson.
Meanwhile, ECB CEO Richard Gould also commented saying that it will not be in cricket’s interest if India do not play in the Champions Trophy.
“It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy,” Thompson, who is in Pakistan alongside ECB CEO Richard Gould, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “If you play the Champions Trophy without India, or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we need to protect them,” he added.
The decision on India’s travel to Pakistan for the event could be taken before current BCCI secretary Jay Shah takes charge of the ICC in December. Shah was elected as ICC chairman in August. The big event will feature eight teams including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
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