BCCI announces India will not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy

DUBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India will not participate in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy if the tournament is held in Pakistan. This decision comes as the BCCI has cited advice from the Indian government against traveling to Pakistan due to security concerns. Scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, the Champions Trophy was set to feature eight teams competing across three venues in Pakistan, marking a significant event for Pakistan’s international cricket calendar.

The BCCI’s decision poses a logistical challenge for the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who may now need to consider alternate arrangements to keep the tournament on schedule. A possible contingency plan involves a hybrid model in which teams could travel between Pakistan and a second location. However, implementing this model will be complex. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently dismissed the hybrid option, suggesting that the board is not in favor of dividing the tournament across two countries.

Nevertheless, ESPNcricinfo reports that the ICC has prepared various contingency strategies, identifying potential host locations as backups. Among the top choices are the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka, with the UAE as the likely frontrunner due to its close proximity and established cricket infrastructure.

This development underscores the ongoing diplomatic and logistical hurdles in hosting major international tournaments in South Asia, where political considerations often impact cricketing decisions.(ESPNCricinfo)