The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly rejected another proposal that would have seen India’s cricket team travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
To facilitate their neighbors, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had reportedly proposed another solution which would have seen the Indian cricket team travel back to Chandigarh or Delhi after each match in Lahore, as concerns linger over India’s extended stay in Pakistan during the tournament.
While Pakistan had offered logistical support for India’s return flights after every game, a BCCI official has confirmed that the board had not received any formal communication from the PCB. The official further emphasized that even if the offer had been made, the BCCI would have rejected it, maintaining that India’s participation in Pakistan would ultimately depend on the Indian government’s directive.
If all else fails, BCCI is likely to ask for a hybrid model where all its Champions Trophy games will be held outside of Pakistan.
The two cricketing giants have not engaged in bilateral series here since India’s tour of Pakistan in 2008, with their encounters limited to ICC tournaments due to political friction.
The Champions Trophy is slated to take place across three Pakistani venues—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—from February 19 to March 9, 2025. However, India’s participation remains a concern for everyone involved.
India’s Champions Trophy matches are pencilled in for February 20, 23, and March 2, 2025.