The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with a proposal to facilitate India’s potential participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan.
According to a report, the PCB has offered a plan allowing India to return to Chandigarh or New Delhi between matches if the team prefers not to stay in Pakistan due to security concerns. This proposal comes as discussions between Indian and Pakistani officials continue, including during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan, where India’s participation in the eight-nation tournament was reportedly discussed.
In its letter to the BCCI, the PCB outlined plans to allow India’s travel back home between matches, particularly with nearly a week-long gap between India’s final two group-stage games. The PCB hopes this arrangement will address India’s security concerns while ensuring smooth tournament operations.
The PCB has scheduled all of India’s matches in Lahore to make logistics easier, as the city is close to the Indian border, which could also benefit Indian fans. India’s group-stage matches are set for February 20 (against Bangladesh), February 23 (against Pakistan), and March 2 (against New Zealand).
However, there have been discussions about moving the New Zealand game from Lahore to Rawalpindi at the request of the tournament’s broadcaster, though the International Cricket Council (ICC) and broadcaster officials have denied any formal knowledge of such a request.
While India’s participation ultimately depends on the Indian government’s decision, both the ICC and PCB recognize the significant commercial value India brings to the tournament. If India chooses not to participate, the tournament’s viewership and financial impact would be significantly reduced
In case India does not travel to Pakistan, the ICC and PCB have considered contingency plans, such as a hybrid model where India’s matches are played at a neutral venue outside of Pakistan.
ECB Chair Richard Thomson recently stressed the importance of India’s involvement, noting that excluding India from the Champions Trophy would hurt broadcast rights and the tournament’s overall success. “There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn’t happen. I wouldn’t have thought it would be played without India,” Thomson said, as quoted by Reuters.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches to be held in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
