The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. In a letter to the ICC, the PCB has requested an official clarification on the stance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has reportedly informed the ICC that India will not play matches in Pakistan.
According to a PCB source, Pakistan has no intention of compromising its hosting rights for the Champions Trophy, set to return to the international cricket calendar after an eight-year hiatus. “Our position is clear: the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be fully hosted in Pakistan. This has been our stance from the beginning,” said the source, adding that the idea of a hybrid format—where matches might be split between countries—has not been a point of discussion for the PCB.
PCB Calls for Consistent Stand on Event
The PCB’s letter to the ICC came after India was informed that it would not travel to Pakistan for the high-stakes tournament. The board has since shared this correspondence with the Pakistani government, seeking guidance on how to proceed. With significant investments of nearly 17 billion rupees going into stadium upgrades in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan is preparing to host the Champions Trophy entirely within its borders and is pushing back against any proposed shift.
Also Read: 2025 Champions Trophy to be Relocated Outside of Pakistan
Reports from earlier this month claimed that the PCB might agree to a hybrid hosting model, as it did for the recent Asia Cup, where Pakistan hosted a few matches, and the remaining games took place in Sri Lanka. However, a PCB source rejected these claims, reiterating that no such arrangement is under consideration for the Champions Trophy.
Future of Tournament in Jeopardy Amid Venue Concerns
The BCCI has expressed reservations about India playing in Pakistan, citing security concerns, and sources suggest India could push for its matches to be held in a neutral venue like the UAE. Should an agreement on a hybrid model not materialize, there is speculation that the entire tournament might be moved out of Pakistan, a move that could jeopardize Pakistan’s hard-fought hosting rights.
The ICC was reportedly preparing to announce the official schedule in November, with preliminary dates set for February 19 to March 9 and matches slated for Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. Yet, the lack of clarity on the BCCI’s stance has cast a shadow over the upcoming tournament, raising concerns about whether the Champions Trophy will indeed go forward as planned.
Also Read: India Set to Skip Pakistan Trip for Champions Trophy
An Ongoing Rivalry and a Long-standing Gap
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season, and the last time India played in Pakistan was for the 2008 Asia Cup. The stand-off over the Champions Trophy highlights the larger, ongoing tension between the two cricket boards, which has repeatedly influenced the frequency and location of matches between the two sides. The PCB has emphasized that it is committed to hosting all matches in Pakistan, underscoring the significance of maintaining its role as a host nation on the international cricket stage.
