England Cricket Board (ECB) has said that there’s no possibility of playing the Champions Trophy without India’s participation. The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled in February-March 2025 with Pakistan being the hosts of the tournament.
India has not played any cricket in Pakistan since the Asia Cup back in 2008 due to the difficult political situation between the two countries. Both sides have not played in bilaterals since 2012 when Pakistan toured India for an ODI and a T20I series. Lately, both sides only play each other in ICC tournaments that too either in India or in neutral venues.
Indian team’s tour to Pakistan is only possible after a green flag from the Indian government and looking at things currently, it is close to impossible that the Indian government will allow the team to play in Pakistan.
“Champions Trophy without India not in Cricket’s Interest”
ECB Chairman Richard Thompson said that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in the absence of cricket’s powerhouse India is not an option and there are other possibilities of hosting the tournament with India playing their matches somewhere else outside Pakistan.
ECB CEO Richard Gould told ESPNcricinfo, “It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy”.
With Jay Shah being the next ICC Chairman, Gould said that they have to find a way. “It’s interesting, There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. I think they’ll find a way. They have to find a way”.
The ECB CEO further added that if you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan then the broadcast rights aren’t there and they (broadcast rights) need to be protected.
“They (Pakistan) are the host· nation. We’ve seen the developments going on, and we’re all waiting to understand whether India is going to travel. That’s the key. “We think there are some discussions and relationships where they need to be. I know Pakistan is expecting India to travel. There are lots of different alternatives and contingencies available if that doesn’t happen.”
“There are always security concerns in this part of the world when those two countries play each other. That will probably drive the key decisions. But I know relationships between the two countries are as amicable as they can be at the moment: we saw it play out at the (men’s T 20 ) World Cup in New York.”
Gould concluded with, “That’s between India and Pakistan, and I think· they will find a way· where India will participate in the Champions Trophy These things tend to go to the wire, as history· has shown us, so I think that in those six months, they’ll find a way”
