New Delhi: Despite no confirmation from BCCI about the Indian team’s travel plans, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains hopeful that India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 next year. Pakistan are the host of the multi-nation tournament which is scheduled to be played in February next year.
PCB has already submitted a draft schedule to the ICC for the showpiece event with Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi likely to host the matches. The ICC has already allotted the budget to PCB for the tournament and has also allocated extra funds to the host board in case a hybrid model is used amid BCCI’s reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan.
As per multiple reports, BCCI is unlikely to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to security concerns. The Indian cricket board continues to maintain that the government will have the final say on whether to allow the team to travel to Pakistan or not. The Indian team has not visited Pakistan since 2008 as the bilateral ties between the two countries have been suspended owing to the political tensions between them.
However, PCB chief Naqvi has said there is no reason why India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year. Speaking to reporters in Lahore on Sunday, Naqvi said he is hopeful India will come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 with the rest of the teams who will take part in the tournament.
“Indian team mujhe puri umeed hai… Abhi tak koi aisi cheej nahi hai jiski wajeh se vo postpone karey ya cancel karey. Toh sari teams aayengi (I am hopeful that the Indian team will come to Pakistan. There is nothing that suggests they will postpone or cancel),” Naqvi told reporters. The PCB chief’s latest comments have gone viral.
Chairman @TheRealPCB @MohsinnaqviC42 on @BCCI India team for Champion trophy 🏆 #India pic.twitter.com/iAAKOViDhP
— Sohail Imran (@sohailimrangeo) October 6, 2024
Asia Cup 2023 was conducted in hybrid model after BCCI’s refusal
Pakistan were officially the host of the Asia Cup 2023 last year. However, the tournament was played in a hybrid model after BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan. India played all their matches, including the final in Sri Lanka and ended up winning the trophy. BCCI has maintained a strict stance regarding not sending the Indian team to Pakistan and it’s unlikely to change for the Champions Trophy next year.
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket against each other since 2013 when the Pakistan team last travelled to India for a white-ball series. The two teams continue to meet only in major ICC tournaments.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently addressed the concerns regading Team India’s travel plans to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
