The whispers about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 to be hosted in Pakistan have not escaped attention. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for over ten years now owing to the political embers in the region and more so, the Indian government has taken and held an aggressive position that the cricket team will not under any circumstances travel to Pakistan. Nevertheless, the Cricbuzz report now states that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered a rather bizarre remedy to this conundrum. It was stated that the “Pakistan Cricket Board has written to BCCI offering assistance to facilitate the Indian team returning to India – to either Chandigarh or New Delhi, after each match to avoid remaining in Pakistan for security reasons.”
Going by the ongoing competition schedule, India’s group stage matches are set for – February 20 (against Bangladesh), February 23 (against Pakistan), and March 2 (against New Zealand). Further, these will be played in Lahore – a venue that was reportedly selected because it is closer to the international border.
Between the last two matches, the report claimed, is a gap of almost a week and the Pakistan Cricket Board has reassured that India can fly back home during that period to avoid any discomfort. It, however, said that in the event India makes it to the finals, they have stood their ground that the finals will be held in Lahore, Pakistan.
Premier sponsors of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as well as its chairman Richard Thompson have also postulated that organizing the Champions Trophy in the absence of the super giant India is out of the question and there are contingencies available in the event Rohit Sharma’s squad does not go to the host country Pakistan.
Since 2008, India has refrained from participating in any cricketing events in Pakistan owing to their hostile relations, and their travel to the South Asian nation is restricted to government approval only.
In all likelihood, the focal point of the tournament, Lahore, will remain off limits for the BCCI and its players and the Champions trophy would thus have to be played virtually. Similar to the Asia Cup held previous year, India can play its games in another country while the remaining games would take place in Pakistan.
The championship will take place in February-March.
For the development of the game, it is important that India plays in the Champions Trophy Thompson, which is also in Pakistan with ECB CEO Richard Gould, was reported by ESPNcricinfo.
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