 "Champions Trophy 2025: India could play all their matches in Lahore")
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has advised the International Cricket Council (ICC) to have all of India’s qualifying round matches in one city during next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The 2025 Champions Trophy not only marks the tournament’s return after eight years, but it also will be the first major event hosted entirely in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. Pakistan was scheduled to host last year’s Asia Cup as well but was forced to co-host the event with Sri Lanka after India refused to travel to Pakistan due to political tensions and security concerns.
The PCB has narrowed down Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore as the three host cities for the mega event next year, with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium scheduled to host the final.
Also Read | Champions Trophy 2025 to be played in hybrid model?
ICC general manager Wasim Khan also recently visited Lahore where he discussed the CT arrangements with the PCB top brass and it was suggested that the Indian team’s travel itinerary be kept to a minimum, a PCB source informed.
The source added that India could play its initial qualifying round games at Karachi before proceeding to the venues for the knockouts.
At the same time, ESPNCricinfo and Cribuzz have reported that India will be based in Lahore and will play all their matches in the same city as Pakistan try to avoid “travel hassles” and it will also allow Indian fans to travel easily for the matches through Wagah border.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWith their cricket engagements restricted only to ICC tournaments, the Indian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the BCCI did not send the national team for the Asia Cup which was eventually held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has maintained that all teams would play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan as per schedule.
Also Read | Pakistan will host Champions Trophy despite India's reluctance to travel: Mohsin Naqvi
He also informed that stadium renovation work would commence soon, with the tournament expected to be held in February-March 2025.
Pakistan are the reigning champions of the tournament that many have described as the ‘mini World Cup’, having thrashed India by 180 runs in the final of the 2017 edition at The Oval in London in June 2017.
The Men in Blue had won the previous edition four years earlier, defeating England in the summit clash at Birmingham’s Edgbaston to be crowned champions for a second time.
They had been declared joint-winners along with hosts Sri Lanka in 2002 after the final in Colombo as well as the subsequent ‘Reserve Day’ had been washed out due to incessant rain.
With agency inputs
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