 "India last locked horns against Pakistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup league stage match in Ahmedabad. Reuters")
The final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March could reportedly be held outside Pakistan if India qualify for the summit clash. At present, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is slated to host the Champions Trophy final on 9 March, but according to a report in Telegraph.co.uk, all of India’s matches could be held at the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai the likely venue for the final if India qualify.
Apart from Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi have been considered as venues to host the Champions Trophy matches.
India last toured Pakistan in 2008
India have not toured Pakistan since 2008 owing to political tensions between the two countries. India and Pakistan have only played one bilateral series since, with Pakistan touring India in 2012 for a limited-overs series. The two teams have been regularly facing off in ICC tournaments as well as Asia Cup.
Pakistan had toured India last year for the ODI World Cup. Pakistan missed out on the semi-finals after the Babar Azam-led outfit finished fifth with eight points.
Mohsin Naqvi remains confident
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi remained confident of all teams, including India , travelling to the country for the eight-team tournament. “The Indian team should come. I don’t see them cancel or postpone coming here and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” he had said.
“The stadiums will also be ready to host the matches on schedule and any remaining work would be completed after the tournament,” Naqvi added.
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla had recently said that the final decision on India’s travel plans to Pakistan would be taken by the Indian government. “No decision has been taken (yet). But our policy is that for international tours, we always seek the permission of the government. It’s up to the government to decide whether our team should go to any country or our team should not go to any country. In this case (also), whatever the government will decide, we will abide by that,” Shukla had said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe 2023 Asia Cup, which was to be held in Pakistan completely, took place in a hybrid model, with India playing all of their matches in Sri Lanka. Nine matches were held in Sri Lanka whereas the other four games were held in Pakistan.
Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy, having beaten India by 180 runs in the final of the 2017 edition in England.