Team India decide against travelling to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy: Report

In what comes as a major development, Team India will reportedly not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of their decision against travelling to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, that will take place from 19 February to 9 March next year. India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy could force the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make a “contingency plan”.

What is the contingency plan for Champions Trophy?

This contingency plan includes an option of hosting the tournament in a hybrid model wherein teams will be required to travel from Pakistan to another country. This comes despite the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi not welcoming the hybrid model.

“I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB,” Naqvi had said, as per another report in ESPNCricinfo.

Should the hybrid model come into effect, UAE will likely be the top priority for an alternate venue with Sri Lanka also in the fray. It remains to be seen if the BCCI has “orally communicated” the decision to the ICC or not. The ICC is also awaiting a “written communication” from the BCCI regarding the issue which would then be communicated to the PCB.

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Mohsin Naqvi has also demanded a list of objections in a written statement from the BCCI and added that those points would then be consulted with the Pakistan government before a last decision is taken.

Champions Trophy to follow Asia Cup 2023 model?

The 2023 Asia Cup was scheduled to take place entirely in Pakistan, but due to India refusing to travel, the tournament was held in a hybrid model. While Pakistan hosted four matches of the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka hosted the other nine matches. India played all their matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan, though, had travelled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup late last year, when the Men in Green led by Babar Azam endured a league-stage exit after finishing fifth.

The report adds that the announcement of the Champions Trophy schedule was to be made next week but that is likely to be postponed.

There have been political tensions between India and Pakistan over the last few years. India last travelled to Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup, and barring a limited-overs bilateral series in 2012 in India, the two teams have faced off only in ICC and ACC tournaments.

The two teams’ latest meeting came during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. India defeated Pakistan by six runs in a group stage match at New York on 9 June.