MUMBAI:
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be the next major limited-overs tournament after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Scheduled to take place in Pakistan, it will be the first ICC event to be played in the country since the 1996 World Cup. India has not played in Pakistan since 2006 due to political tension. The arch-rivals only face each other in ICC events and the Asia Cup.
According to IANS, Team India may not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to ongoing tensions between the countries. A source told the IANS that the tournament venue could be changed, and possibly a hybrid model like the 2023 Asia Cup will be adopted.
“Apart from a bilateral series, the Indian team may not even travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 owing to security concerns. There could be a change in the tournament’s venue, or a hybrid model is also possible.”
According to the source, the ties between Pakistan and India are not great, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India would require permission from the Indian government to visit Pakistan.
“Given our current relations with Pakistan, the Indian board would require permission from the government.”
The source added that nothing could be done without the government’s approval.
“Since the Champions Trophy is an ICC tournament, India would have to make a difficult decision, but nothing can happen without the permission of the government. It is highly unlikely that we will see bilateral series in the near future. It’s next to impossible.”
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2013, when Pakistan visited India for two T20I and three ODI’s.
Recently, Rohit Sharma stated that he would love to play in a Test series between India and Pakistan.
