Pakistan will be hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and there have been several media reports about India’s possible participation in this tournament. India last played a game in Pakistan in 2008 in the Asia Cup finals, and the political turmoil between the two neighbouring countries has played a huge role in India’s not travelling to Pakistan or playing bilateral cricket with Pakistan.
After the Asia Cup 2023 was played in a hybrid format, with certain matches being played in Sri Lanka to suit India after the latter refused to travel to Pakistan, tensions surfaced as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 came an inch closer.
During the Uttar Pradesh Premier League (UPPL) player auctions, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla shed some light on whether India will travel to its neighbouring nation to play the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“Pakistan can say whatever it wants about coming to India during the 2026 World Cup, but we are only waiting for the Indian government’s approval,” said Rajeev Shukla.
This statement was given in response to media reports that Pakistan might boycott the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026; both to be held in India. This will happen if India doesn’t travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“Of course, we expect retaliation. If we don’t travel to Pakistan, they will threaten to boycott the Asia Cup. But PCB should understand that it’s not in BCCI’s hands. Sending a team to a foreign country requires India’s government’s permission. So far, we have had dialogues regarding Champions Trophy. But we haven’t had any positive outcomes,” said a senior BCCI Official.
Pakistan had last won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017
The Champions Trophy, where the top 8 teams of ODI Cricket play, was last played in 2017 in England. It was Virat Kohli’s first ICC tournament as captain. India lost to the arch-rivals Pakistan National Cricket team in the high-voltage finals by a humongous margin of 180 runs.
Fakhar Zaman bagged the Player of the Match award for his scintillating knock of 114 runs in just 106 deliveries.
