Beyond the boundary

INDIA’s decision to forego travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 reflects a strained chapter in the long-standing India-Pakistan cricket rivalry. The stance disrupts a promising avenue for sports diplomacy, which could foster goodwill between the two cricket-crazed nations.

The Champions Trophy is set to feature matches in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) arranging India’s games near the border for logistical ease. Additionally, the PCB has proposed a hybrid model, allowing India to set up a base in New Delhi or Chandigarh with chartered flights to Lahore for matches, prioritising India’s security concerns. Such an approach could ease travel issues while fostering a historic instance of cooperation between the two boards. Unfortunately, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opted out, citing security concerns, but without significant diplomatic outreach.

In previous years, Pakistan has demonstrated goodwill by travelling to India for events like the T20 World Cup in 2016 and the ODI World Cup in 2023. By choosing not to reciprocate, India risks undermining sports as a bridge for peace. Cricket diplomacy has previously served as a symbolic yet significant platform for easing tensions. Participating in the Champions Trophy could have reinforced India’s commitment to building constructive ties with its neighbours, regardless of political differences. By reconsidering its decision, India could strengthen regional stability and uphold the spirit of sportsmanship on the international stage. Let cricket remind us of its unifying power and transcend the political divide — after all, sports diplomacy isn’t about victories on the field alone, but also the progress we make beyond it.