India Unlikely to Travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025, BCCI to Propose Hybrid Model: Report

The Indian Cricket team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, leading the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to propose that India’s matches be held in Dubai or Sri Lanka instead. This plan mirrors the hybrid model used in the 2023 Asia Cup.

The BCCI will formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider this arrangement. The tournament is scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with Pakistan having proposed matches in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. The highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match is set for March 1 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

India has not traveled to Pakistan since 2008, and bilateral series between the two nations have been rare, with the last one occurring in 2012-13. Despite India skipping a visit to Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan participated in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

Any decision regarding India’s travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will ultimately be made by the Indian government. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to address this issue at the upcoming ICC meeting in Sri Lanka. The PCB has submitted a draft for the tournament, allocating seven matches to Lahore, five to Rawalpindi, and three to Karachi.

The final decision will be influenced by the Indian government’s stance and further discussions at ICC meetings.