Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is optimistic about the Indian men’s cricket team traveling to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohsin Naqvi made his comments despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not confirming his trip to Pakistan.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are likely to host the ICC tournament matches. The PCB has submitted a draft schedule to the International Cricket Council with the venues and dates of the tournament.

The ICC has allocated funds to the Pakistan Cricket Board for the upcoming tournament and has also allocated additional funds if a hybrid model is required due to the uncertainty surrounding India’s participation. The BCCI needs to get the green light from the Indian government to travel to Pakistan.

Team India will come to play ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – Mohsin Naqvi

Speaking to local media in Lahore on Sunday, Mohsin Naqvi said India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Mohsin Naqvi said there is no reason for India to postpone or cancel its visit. He added that all teams, including India, are expected to visit Pakistan.

“The Indian team has a lot of hope for me… So far there is no such thing for which they will postpone or cancel. All the teams will come (India team will come to play the Champions Trophy, all the teams will come).” said Mohsin Naqvi.

Team India last visited Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

Since 2008, the Indian cricket team has not visited Pakistan due to political tensions between the two countries. The BCCI is reportedly unlikely to send the team to Pakistan for the tournament. The BCCI has stated that the final decision on travel will rest with the Indian government.

Pakistan has not hosted any major ICC tournament since the 1996 ODI World Cup. Pakistan was to co-host the 2011 ODI World Cup but missed the opportunity after the Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by terrorists in 2009. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hosted the ODI World Cup in 2011.

The 2023 Asia Cup was played in a hybrid model after the BCCI’s refusal

The Asia Cup 2023 was held in a hybrid model after the BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan, which was the official host. India played all their matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, clinched the trophy by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since 2013, when the Men in Green last visited India. Since then, the two teams have only faced each other in ICC and ACC tournaments. Pakistan returned for the T20 World Cup in 2016 and their most recent encounter was during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

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