PCB Proposes Solution to Ensure India’s Participation in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is actively working to secure India’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9.

With all other participating nations confirming their attendance, uncertainties surrounding India’s travel to Pakistan have emerged as a significant concern for all parties involved. ECB’s CEO had earlier announced that ICC Champions Trophy 2025 cannot take place without India’s participation and hinted at “contingencies” if the logjam continued.

India’s participation is reportedly contingent upon approval from the Indian government, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) emphasizing that travel to Pakistan will depend on comprehensive security assessments. In light of these issues, the PCB has put forth a new proposal aimed at addressing their security apprehensions which is for the Indian team to return to India—either Chandigarh or Delhi—after each match, thus avoiding a prolonged stay in Pakistan.

According to reports PCB has pledged to assist the Indian team with travel logistics, facilitating their return home between matches to mitigate security concerns. With a week-long gap between the last two group matches, this arrangement is deemed both practical and feasible by the PCB.

India is also scheduled to play all its games in Lahore which is conveniently close to the Indian border. In a strategic adjustment, one of India’s fixtures against New Zealand may also be relocated to Rawalpindi, further enhancing the viability of this proposal.

India has not travelled to Pakistan since 2008 with the two teams only competing against each other in ICC-sanctioned events.