Pakistan’s new white-ball skipper Muhammad Rizwan has urged the Indian cricket team to visit Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to start from 19th February 2025. Pakistan is the host for this tournament. The main issue is that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to political tension between the two countries. The Indian government has not allowed the national side to travel to Pakistan for any bilateral series.
The last bilateral series between the two sides was back in 2012 when Pakistan visited India. Both sides only play each other in either ICC tournaments or in the Asia Cup.
“Fans will be thrilled to see India playing champions trophy in Pakistan”: Rizwan
The newly appointed white-ball captain has said that Pakistani fans love Indian players. They will be thrilled to see India playing in Pakistan. He said that we would welcome them with warmth if they came.
Rizwan also reminded about his visit to India during the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup. He said that they (Pakistan cricket team) received lots of love and respect in India and he wants the same for the Indian team in Pakistan.
It seems very unlikely that the Indian government will allow the cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. If this is the case then the tournament will be played in a hybrid model with India playing their matches outside of Pakistan at a different venue. The final will be played outside Pakistan if India qualifies for the finals.
The top 8 teams from the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings will participate in the tournament. There will be two groups of 4 teams in each group followed by the semi-finals and the finals.
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand will be in Group A. Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan will be in Group B for Champions Trophy 2025. Interestingly, the last Champions Trophy held in 2017 in England was won by Pakistan. They defeated India in the final of the tournament.