India has decided not to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy cricket tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of this decision, citing security concerns. The BCCI has requested that all of India’s matches be held in Dubai.
“This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai,” according to a report in the Indian Express.
The tournament, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will feature the top eight teams in the world, with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi designated as host cities.
According to sources, the BCCI reaffirmed its position on Pakistan “in consultation with the government.” Before last year’s Asia Cup, India successfully moved its matches to Sri Lanka despite pressure from the hosts, Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly open to making “adjustments” to the schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which it is set to host, by holding matches involving India in the UAE, according to sources.
This could result in the tournament being organized under a ‘Hybrid Model,’ as the Indian government is unlikely to permit its team to travel to Pakistan due to the current socio-political climate and security concerns.
Optimism for renewed cricket ties had emerged following a meeting last month between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad.
This marked the first high-level dialogue between the nations since 2015, sparking discussions about resuming cricket relations. The PCB had even offered to accommodate India by allowing the team to return home after each game.
However, since Jaishankar’s visit on October 16, multiple terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including two soldiers.
The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2006, when Rahul Dravid’s team won an ODI series 4-1. Recently, Pakistan has hosted teams like England and Bangladesh.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
