Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that BCCI has not talked about India’s stance on the travelling to Pakistan for the event.
The tournament is scheduled from February 19th to 9th of March 2025. It’s known that the Indian government doesn’t allows the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for any sort of cricket.
The PCB chairman said to the media that there has been no official communications from the BCCI regarding this issue. Earlier reports were that the BCCI has told PCB that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan.
Naqvi said, “I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear. They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB”.
He further said, “If we get a letter from India, I’ll have to go to my government and have to abide by their decisions. Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past. We’d like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time. The government will decide if Pakistan travel for any future event in India if they don’t come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The PCB will not decide that”.
“Almost every country wants Champions Trophy in Pakistan”: PCB Chairman
Mohsin Naqvi said that he’s in touch with several cricket boards and they’re looking forward to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. He also that anyone shouldn’t make this a political matter. We’ll provide as many facilities as we can and also want fans from other countries to come for the tournament.
“I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter. We’ll give every team as many facilities as we can. We’d like to see fans from abroad come for the tournament, too”.
“Any sport should not be entangled with politics. If you don’t get along with another country, that’s another matter, but politics should not be involved in sport”, he further added.
India has not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Both sides last played a bilateral back in 2012 when Pakistan toured India. Since then, both teams have played each other only in ICC tournaments or in the Asia Cup.
