New Delhi: BCCI has decided that the Indian team might skip the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan. The exact reasons for this shocked refusal are unclear so far. However, it is believed that the board turned down the Pak offer over security concerns.
Champions trophy 2025 saga pic.twitter.com/5UJhiY5wdY
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly scheduled the matches of the Indian national team in only Lahore. However, it turns out that this was not enough to convince the Indian officials to send their national team to the forthcoming tournament in Pakistan.
ICC has invited fan-parks tender for Champions Trophy 2025.
The tournament host OFFICIALLY is still Pakistan as mentioned in the documents. pic.twitter.com/CLscSXHitd
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) July 12, 2024
According to reported sources and inside reports, the BCCI has asked the PCB to shift India’s matches to Dubai or Sri Lanka in a hybrid model. Although a formal agreement from the PCB is still awaited, it is believed that the PAK board does not have many options on its cards and they might have to succumb to India’s demands.
What if India does not play?
If the Pakistan Cricket Board remains hell-bent on scheduling the matches in Lahore leading to the exclusion of the Indian cricket team, the Sri Lankan national cricket team will get a chance to play in the ICC Champions Trophy.
The Sri Lankan team finished 9th in the 2023 ODI World Cup standings. According to the ICC rules, the top 8 teams are eligible to play in the Champions trophy based on the ODI World Cup Standings. Therefore, the exclusion of India makes the Lankans eligible for the Champions Trophy.
Scenes after India refused to travel Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025#BCCI | #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/bno50fEMo0
— Rajabets 🇮🇳👑 (@smileagainraja) July 11, 2024
India and Pakistan have a historical standoff which goes beyond the ambit of Cricket. Both teams have a shared geopolitical conflict which makes the battles fought in the 22 yards more enticing.
Champions Trophy 2025
Action Reaction pic.twitter.com/kMUcgaGfBn— Ashley (Molly) (@theAshleyMolly) July 11, 2024
However, in recent decades things have spiralled out of the hands of both governments. Subsequently, the BCCI decided to stall all tours to Pakistan indefinitely post-2008. Currently, the only place both sides meet is only at ICC or Asia Cup events.