India National Cricket Team. Pic Credits: X
India National Cricket Team. Pic Credits: X
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Cricket

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Team India’s Potential Flight To Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 Hinges on BCCI’s Sole Condition

May 8, 2024
Kashvi Haria
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BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has stated that India‘s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy next year hinges on approval from the central government. Scheduled for February to March 2025 in Pakistan, the tournament’s prospects for Team India‘s involvement have been uncertain amidst media speculation. Tense bilateral relations since the 2008 Asia Cup have kept India from participating in cricket tournaments on Pakistani soil, primarily due to security concerns stemming from terrorism.

Bilateral Cricket on Hold: India-Pakistan Rivalry Limited to ICC Events Since 2013

Following the last bilateral series in December 2012-January 2013 held in India, interactions between the two cricketing nations have been restricted to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.

In an interview with ANI, Rajeev Shukla emphasized,

“For the Champion Trophy, our actions are contingent upon the directives of the Government of India. We only send our team when granted permission by the government. Therefore, our course of action will align with the decision of the Indian government,”

Hybrid Hosting: Pakistan’s Unique Approach to Cricket Tournaments

Pakistan resorted to a hybrid strategy during the hosting of last year’s Asia Cup. Notably, all of India’s matches, including those against Pakistan, were held in Sri Lanka, with the tournament final, won by India, taking place in Colombo. While Pakistan had considered employing a similar hybrid approach for the previous year’s ODI World Cup in India, it was ultimately disregarded.

However, they ended up playing all their matches in India at five distinct venues before being knocked out in the group stages. Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, last held in 2017.

PCB Designates Lahore as Sole Venue for India Matches in Champions Trophy Amidst Logistics and Security Concerns

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designated Lahore as the sole venue for India’s matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy, a decision reported by ESPN cricinfo in May. ESPN cricinfo indicates that the PCB has finalized three locations—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—to host the two-week tournament. Notably, India’s draft schedule outlines all their games to be held in Lahore, including the final match.

The decision to concentrate India’s matches in one city is purportedly aimed at mitigating potential logistical and security challenges associated with their travel. Moreover, it provides Indian fans with a convenient option, given Lahore’s proximity to the Wagah border crossing between the two countries.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Shreyas Iyer Can Be Groomed As Indian Captain Says Former BCCI Chief Selector MSK Prasad

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