The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February to March next year, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to release the tournament’s schedule and venue. Although the ICC has given the hosting rights to Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not made any official statement on whether the Indian cricket team will participate in the tournament.
PCB Asks BCCI for Written Evidence
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly asked the BCCI to provide written proof that the Government of India has refused to allow the team to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to security concerns. A PCB source has confirmed that the board wants the matter to be resolved quickly, as the tournament is just a few months away.
PCB Submits Champions Trophy Schedule to ICC
The PCB has submitted the schedule of the Champions Trophy to the ICC, which includes all the matches, semi-finals, and finals to be held in Lahore. The match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on March 1. The tournament is set to start in Karachi on February 19 and the final will be held in Lahore on March 9.
Indian Cricket Team Has Not Visited Pakistan Since 2008
The Indian cricket team last visited Pakistan in 2008, shortly after which a terrorist attack took place on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. Since then, the Indian team has not traveled to Pakistan to play. However, the Pakistan team has continued to visit India intermittently. The picture regarding the Champions Trophy is expected to become clearer after the ICC meeting to be held in Sri Lanka, after which the schedule can be officially released.
Possibility of Indian Team Playing in UAE
There is a possibility that the Indian team may play its matches in the UAE, but no official announcement has been made about it yet. The ICC’s annual conference is scheduled to take place in Colombo on July 19, but discussion on the hybrid model is not on the agenda. Under this model, the Indian team would play its matches in the UAE.
