India has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) it will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, according to hosts Pakistan. Ongoing political tensions have meant that the two nations have not faced each other outside of ICC tournaments since 2013, and India has not toured Pakistan for 16 years. This decision casts uncertainty on Pakistan’s first hosting of a global event since 1996, scheduled for February and March next year.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that it received an email from the ICC stating that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially declined to send the Indian team to Pakistan. A PCB spokesperson said, “The PCB has forwarded that email to the government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance.”
One possible solution under consideration is a “hybrid” model, which would allow India to play its Champions Trophy matches outside Pakistan, potentially in the United Arab Emirates. A similar arrangement was used during last year’s Asia Cup, which Pakistan co-hosted with the UAE. However, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated on Friday that Pakistan is not open to a hybrid solution for this tournament, raising questions about how knockout matches would proceed if India advances to the semi-finals.
While the ICC has yet to release an official schedule for the Champions Trophy, discussions with all participating nations are ongoing. ICC Chief Executive Richard Gould recently stressed the significance of both India and Pakistan’s participation, warning that excluding either team would impact broadcast rights and overall tournament viability. “If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren’t there, and we need to protect them,” Gould said.
Pakistan’s return to hosting international cricket remains significant, as the country saw a hiatus between 2009 and 2015 after a tragic attack on the Sri Lankan team. Former England assistant coach Paul Farbrace, who was part of the Sri Lanka staff at the time, emphasized Pakistan’s deserving return to the world stage. “This is a fantastic opportunity for India to show it wants cricket to flourish in the region,” Farbrace commented, advocating for India’s participation as a gesture of commitment to the sport’s growth across borders.
As of now, the ICC continues to weigh options to ensure a full tournament in Pakistan. The competition is set to begin in just over 100 days, on February 19, but a finalized solution remains uncertain as political complexities continue to influence sporting commitments in South Asia.
