The decision was taken after advice from the Indian Government.
In a recent development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed its stance on the Indian team’s trip to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI has informed the ICC that India will not travel to Pakistan to participate in the mega event. The report further mentioned that the Indian government had advised the board not to send the equipment to the neighboring nation.
The report further mentions that the ICC was made aware of the BCCI’s position earlier this week, although it is not clear if the Indian board communicated its decision verbally. The ICC may be waiting for a written statement before passing this information on to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
PCB president Naqvi, on the other hand, emphasized on Friday that the PCB would demand that any objection from the BCCI be submitted “in writing”, so that it could be reviewed with his government before taking a final decision.
Where will the Champions Trophy 2025 take place after the latest event?
The eight-team Champions Trophy will be held at three venues in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. However, recent developments suggest that the ICC and PCB may need to implement a contingency plan, which could involve a hybrid model where matches alternate between Pakistan and a secondary location.
This approach could be a challenge, especially after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently dismissed the idea of a hybrid model, stating that it had not even been discussed. However, it is understood that several contingency plans were considered months ago, should such a model become necessary.
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Among possible alternative locations, the United Arab Emirates appears to be a leading option due to its proximity to Pakistan, and Sri Lanka is also being considered.
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