Follow Us on Google News
The International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation arrived in Pakistan on Monday to assess the preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy slated for February 2025 but the pivotal question remains whether India, a significant force in cricket, will commit to participating in the event held in Pakistan as India has said nothing about the matter thus far.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) acquiesced to a sharing arrangement, hosting four matches of the Asia Cup while the remainder took place in Sri Lanka.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi anticipates securing confirmation of India’s involvement in the 2025 Champions Trophy during the upcoming ICC Meeting in Dubai. India has refrained from visiting Pakistan since 2008, with last year’s Asia Cup similarly affected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision not to send the team due to the tournament’s hybrid format.
Reportedly, Naqvi is scheduled to meet with the ICC Executive Board and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, seeking assurance regarding India’s participation in Pakistan. The prestigious ICC tournament is set to take place in February-March next year.
Although cricketing activities have gradually resumed in Pakistan in recent years, enticing India for the Champions Trophy poses a significant challenge for the PCB amid ongoing political tensions between the two nations. A PCB source expressed concern to PTI about ensuring India’s presence and avoiding a repeat of the previous Asia Cup issues, particularly referencing the ‘Hybrid Model’ utilized last year.
Simultaneously, PCB encountered a similar predicament when implementing the hybrid model for the Asia Cup, hosting only four matches while others were held in Sri Lanka. Pakistan visited India during last year’s ODI World Cup, but India’s last tour to Pakistan dates back to the 2008 Asia Cup.
The source added that Naqvi plans to update the ICC board on the enhancements made to stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, as well as the Pakistan government’s stance regarding India’s potential participation in matches held in Pakistan.