The Indian team has decided not to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to strained relationships between the two countries. Instead, they will request the International Cricket Council to hold the matches in Sri Lanka or Dubai. The tournament, scheduled for February to March 2025, will mark the first time India has not participated in cricket tournaments held in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012-2013, and since then, the two teams have only faced each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. The uncertainty surrounding India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy has been a topic of discussion due to the political tensions between the two nations. The Pakistan Cricket Board had proposed that India play all their matches in Lahore, but the BCCI is not interested in travelling to Pakistan for the tournament.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla had earlier mentioned that the Indian team would only travel to Pakistan for the tournament if permitted by the central government. The decision to participate in the Champions Trophy will ultimately depend on the Government of India’s approval. A similar situation occurred during the Asia Cup last year, which was originally scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan. However, due to the prevailing circumstances, all of India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka, including the final which India won.
Pakistan are the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy, having won the tournament in 2017. It remains to be seen how the ICC will handle India’s request to relocate the matches for the upcoming event. The BCCI is firm in its decision not to travel to Pakistan and will seek alternative venues for the matches to go ahead without their participation. The final call on India’s participation in the Champions Trophy is pending the government’s approval and will be made accordingly.
