The Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to request that the International Cricket Council (ICC) hold India’s matches in Sri Lanka or Dubai, according to a BCCI source speaking to ANI. The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March 2025. India has avoided playing in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to strained relations between the two countries. The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan occurred from December 2012 to January 2013 in India. Since then, their encounters have been limited to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.
Uncertainty has surrounded India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy because of the ongoing political tensions. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had proposed that India play all its matches in a single city, reportedly choosing Lahore. However, the BCCI is not considering traveling to Pakistan.
A BCCI source confirmed to ANI, “India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. We will request the ICC to hold our matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka.”
In May, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated that the Indian team would travel to Pakistan for the tournament only if the central government permitted it. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, “For the Champions Trophy, we will follow the Indian government’s directive. We will send our team only if the government permits it. We will adhere to the government’s decision.”
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A similar situation arose during the previous year’s Asia Cup, which was scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan. The PCB adopted a hybrid model, hosting all of India’s matches, including those against Pakistan, in Sri Lanka. The tournament’s final, won by India, took place in Colombo. While Pakistan hinted at the possibility of using a hybrid model for the ODI World Cup in India last year, the idea was not pursued.
