The Indian men’s cricket team will not likely travel to Pakistan next year to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. As per a report by Sports Tak on Saturday, the Men in Blue will not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team ICC event slated to play on February 19 and March 9.
Recent news suggests that any decision on the travel of Team India to Pakistan will be taken by the Indian government in consultation with the BCCI. India has not toured Pakistan since 2008. These two teams have played only one bilateral series against each other in the last 16 years, and way back in the 2012-13 season.
Pakistan to host ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The draft of the schedule has already been sent out by the Pakistan Cricket Board to the ICC. They have put March 1, 2025, for the high-voltage India versus Pakistan clash at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Now, the billion-dollar question remains if India is going to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. That was amidst the simmering political tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
Reports say that the Bangladesh team will be there in the same pool as arch-rivals Team India Pakistan and New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 draft shared by the event hosts Pakistan Cricket Board, PCB.
As per the PTI and Al Jazeera’s reports, PCB shared the draft schedule to the ICC on July 3 and awaits its approval. It also includes a huge India vs. Pakistan first match on March 1 in Lahore, as the event will take place from February 19 to March 9.
Bangladesh and New Zealand are part of Group A with Pakistan and India. Group B consists of Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The teams from each group are due to play the other three teams once. Then the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.
The final will take place in Lahore. While the two semi finals will happen in the cities of Karachi and Rawalpindi. In case Team India makes it to the semifinals, their match will take place in Lahore. The Indian team will be based in Lahore for the whole tournament, also for security reasons, and this is where the final is going to be held.
India may not travel to Pakistan for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025
In a nail-biting finish, Team India won the T20 World Cup. India beat South Africa by 7 runs in the final on June 29 in Bridgetown. This historic win will now make Indian fans look forward to the ICC Champions Trophy 50-over event in Pakistan.
But the real question is if Pakistan will host it, will the Indian team visit Pakistan?
As per a report in Sports Tak on Saturday, the Men in Blue will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC event. The event will take place next year from February 19 to March 9. As per the recent news, any decision about India’s travel to Pakistan will be taken by the Indian government.
For many years, the Indian government has barred the national cricket team from going over to Pakistan due to political and military conflicts.
“The Indian government’s ruling on this issue will be final. But since this is an ICC event we cannot take any unilateral decisions. More details may come out during the next ICC meeting,” the source said.
Team India was to visit Pakistan last year for the Asia Cup. But, due to tensions between the two nations, the event was taken out of Pakistan and all of India’s games. That includes the final, which was played in Sri Lanka. And yet, Pakistan went to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s Verdict on ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The secretary of the BCCI Jay Shah is yet to make a statement on India’s participation in the Champions Trophy. But after Team India’s win against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2024, Mr Shah said that the Champions Trophy along with WTC 2023-25 will be the next target. He further said that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will take part in the Champions Trophy.
Almost a similar squad will play there. Seniors will be there,” Shah said. Team India has a score to settle with the defending champions Pakistan. India lost to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2017 final by 180 runs.
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