India Unlikely To Tour Pakistan For 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

The Indian cricket team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is advocating for the matches to be relocated to either Sri Lanka or Dubai. Sources tell ABP News that several players of the Indian team are also not willing to go to Pakistan to play in the upcoming ICC event.

Government sources informed ABP News that Pakistan’s decision to downgrade diplomatic relations with India since 2019, including sending back the Indian High Commissioner, makes it highly unlikely for the Indian team to visit. Their stance on counterterrorism also suggests no conducive environment for such sports engagements, making a trip to Pakistan seem far-fetched.

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Champions Trophy Matches Including India Likely To Be Held In Dubai Or Sri Lanka

Pakistan has the hosting rights for the upcoming 50-overs extravaganza- Champions Trophy, marking its return to the cricket calendar after the last event in 2017. However, there is a possibility that some matches in the tournament will be held in either the UAE or Sri Lanka.

As per an ANI report, the Indian cricket team is unlikely to visit Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. According to BCCI sources speaking to ANI, the BCCI intends to request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold the matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka instead.

Pakistan Were Forced To Adopt Hybrid Format For 2023 Asia Cup

Previously, the Asia Cup in 2023 also adopted a hybrid format, with India playing all its matches in Sri Lanka while the other participating countries travelled to Pakistan. India declined to travel to their neighboring country as all of India’s matches were instead played in Sri Lanka, where Rohit Sharma’s team emerged victorious in the tournament held just before the 2023 ODI World Cup. 

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Last month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted a draft schedule to the International Cricket Council, which included India’s matches scheduled in Lahore, including the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals on March 1. However, the BCCI has not yet confirmed any travel plans regarding the tournament.