The Indian men’s cricket team is unlikely to tour Pakistan next year to take part in the edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. A report in Sports Tac on Saturday (July 6) said that the Men in Blue will not tour Pakistan for the eight-team ICC event which will be played from February 19 to March 9.
As per available information, any decision regarding Indian travel to Pakistan will be taken by the Government of India.
“While the details of the tournament are yet to be discussed, it is highly unlikely that the Indian team will tour Pakistan. The final decision will rest with the Indian government. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to raise the issue at the ICC meeting in Sri Lanka this month,” the source said.
“The government’s decision on this matter will be final as we are yet to check it internally. As this is an ICC event, it has no power to take a unilateral decision. However, details may emerge at the next ICC meeting,” he added.
India have not toured Pakistan since 2008. In the last 16 years, the two teams have faced each other in a bilateral series just once – in 2012-13.
India were scheduled to travel to Pakistan to take part in the Asia Cup last year, but due to tensions between the two countries, the tournament was relocated from Pakistan and India’s matches, including the final, were played in Sri Lanka.
However, despite India’s decision to skip the Pakistan tour, Pakistan travelled to India to take part in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 and played matches in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
Pakistan’s Draft CT2025
A few days ago, it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted a proposal for the venues of the Champions Trophy 2025, allocating seven matches to Lahore, five to Rawalpindi and three to Karachi. The report mentioned that a tense match between India and Pakistan will be played at the famous Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 1.
“The PCB has submitted a draft plan for the ICC Champions Trophy with 15 matches — seven in Lahore, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi,” an ICC source told news agency PTI.
