PCB seeks clarification from BCCI on India's decision to avoid Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Delhi: India has set its sights on the 2025 Champions Trophy as its next chance to win an ICC title following the T20 World Cup in 2024. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Pakistan, marking the country's first ICC event since the 1996 ODI World Cup. However, there are concerns regarding India's participation, with reports indicating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the Indian government has not given permission for the Indian team to travel. Despite this hurdle, the PCB appears determined to address the situation and ensure a successful tournament.

As per an ESPN Cricinfo report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting a written confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding their inability to participate in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The PCB has also sought a detailed justification from the BCCI explaining why India cannot send its team to the tournament in Pakistan.

The ICC’s communication to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was received on November 8, just three days before the planned launch event for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was set to mark 100 days before the tournament’s tentative start on February 9. However, due to the ongoing uncertainty about whether India will travel to Pakistan, the event has been postponed.

Reports have suggested that India could play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the UAE, following a hybrid model similar to the one used for the 2023 Asia Cup. However, an official from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated, according to ESPN Cricinfo, that there is no possibility of such a hybrid model being implemented for the 2025 Champions Trophy.