Rajeev Shukla, Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has stated that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year if the central government grants permission.
Next year, from February to March 2025, Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy. This comes as media reports suggest India may not travel to Pakistan for the event.
India has not played any cricket competitions in Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008, owing to severe relations between the two countries caused by terrorism.
The final bilateral series between the two countries took place in India between December 2012 and January 2013. Since then, both nations have only competed in ICC competitions and the Asia Cup.
Shukla told ANI, “In the case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India tells us to do.” We only send our team when the Government of India grants us permission. So we will follow the judgment of the Indian government.”
Pakistan was forced to employ a hybrid strategy when hosting the Asia Cup last year, with all of India’s games, including those against Pakistan, taking place in Sri Lanka.
The tournament final, which India won, was held in Colombo. Although Pakistan hinted at the prospect of utilizing a hybrid method to compete in the ODI World Cup in India the previous year, it was never really considered.
Before being ousted in the group rounds, they played all of their games in India, at five different venues.
Pakistan are the defending Champions Trophy champions, having won the tournament in 2017.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has identified Lahore as the sole destination for India matches for the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan has been given for the next year, as ESPNcricinfo revealed earlier in May.
According to ESPNcricinfo, PCB has decided on three locations for the two-week Champions Trophy: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. India’s draft schedule calls for them to play all of their games at Lahore, which also hosts the final.
It is reported that the notion of putting India in one location was proposed to avoid possibly substantial logistical and security concerns associated with their travel.
Furthermore, because it is located in Lahore, which is close to the two countries’ Wagah border crossing, it makes it a more accessible destination for Indian fans.
The PCB’s chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, previously stated that the board had handed the ICC a draft schedule for the event, which is expected to take place in mid-February next year.
The eight participating members will discuss it, with the main sticking point presumably being whether or not the India squad travels.
