Champions Trophy Tour
The Government of Pakistan has decided to issue a “stern warning” to India if its neighboring rival skips the tour for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025, according to sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Sunday.
These sources revealed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the PCB that India will not be participating in the event in Pakistan. This development was later confirmed by a PCB spokesperson to AFP.
Pakistan, who won the last Champions Trophy in 2017 in England, is slated to host the prestigious event for the first time. However, the escalating tension between the two cricket boards might delay the ICC’s planned release of the tournament’s schedule, which was expected to happen this week.
India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, and due to strained political relations between the two nations, their cricket teams have only met during multi-team international tournaments.
A recent example is the 2023 Asia Cup, where India refused to play in Pakistan, citing governmental restrictions. Instead, they played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model” arrangement, which allowed Pakistan to host some matches while India played its games at neutral venues.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently stated that the board has not yet received any formal confirmation regarding India’s reported refusal to tour for the Champions Trophy. However, following reports from Indian media suggesting that India is seeking to play its matches at a neutral venue, tensions have risen.
Sources have indicated that if India follows through with its decision not to participate in Pakistan, the PCB has resolved not to play any matches against India in the future until relations improve.
The Pakistani government has echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the country has always projected a positive image by sending its cricket team to India, while India consistently politicizes the sport. Islamabad reportedly insists that Pakistan’s security is robust, and there is no legitimate reason for India to refuse to tour.
Some commentators, such as Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, have suggested that the conflict between the two nations is primarily playing out in the media and that a ban on India touring Pakistan was never likely.
According to Gupta, the decision lies beyond the control of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and involves broader political factors.
With fewer than 100 days left before the Champions Trophy, the situation remains unresolved. The PCB has made it clear that they oppose any hybrid model for the tournament, and Naqvi emphasized that if the BCCI has any concerns, they should be formally communicated in writing.
On November 8, PCB spokesperson Sami Ul Hasan confirmed to AFP that India would not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. “The Pakistan Cricket Board has received an email from the ICC, stating that the Indian board has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025,” Hasan said. He further added that the PCB has forwarded the ICC’s communication to the Pakistani government for further advice and guidance.
The ongoing stand-off between the two cricket boards has placed the finalization of the Champions Trophy schedule in doubt as the PCB awaits an official response from India.
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