New Delhi: In the latest twist in the Pakistan-India ICC Champions Trophy saga, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed its unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the mega-tournament next year. According to a report in the Indian Express, India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to security concerns. The Indian Cricket Board have reportedly communicated their decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
BCCI has also expressed their desire to play all their games 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,” a source told the Indian Express.
ICC event returns to Pakistan but sans India
Pakistan are set to host the top eight international teams from February 19 to March 9 in the marquee 50-overs ICC event. Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi have been chosen as the host cities. According to sources, BCCI never changed its stance on visiting Pakistan after consultations with the government.
Last year at the Asia Cup, India played its matches in Sri Lanka after successfully managing to shift their matches from Pakistan.
The latest development comes after hopes of mending relations between the two countries were raised following last month’s visit of India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad.
As this was the first direct conversation between the countries at the top level since 2015, the possibility of resumption of bilateral cricket ties was speculated in the media circles. The cordial meet fuelled rumours and reports of India travelling to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy.
India have not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup which was held in the same year as the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack. Since then, both teams have played just one bilateral series with Pakistan travelling to India in 2012-13. Courtesy of the acrimonious relations, India and Pakistan have not faced each other in a bilateral series in the last 11 years and only lock horns in ICC events.
According to a report, an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is scheduled to visit Lahore from November 10 to 12 to inspect arrangements for the tournament.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: The Indian Cricket Board have reportedly communicated their decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
