India unlikely to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy, will ask ICC to hold matches in UAE or Sri Lanka

New Delhi, June 11

The Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and will ask the International Cricket Council to hold its matches in Sri Lanka or Dubai, a BCCI source told ANI.

The ICC Champions Trophy will be held next year from February to March 2025 in Pakistan. Since 2008’s Asia Cup, India has not played any cricket tournaments in Pakistan due to tense relationships between both nations.

A bilateral series from December 2012 to January 2013 in India also marked the final bilateral series between the two nations. Since then, both nations have only clashed at ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.

Uncertainty has been looming over India’s participation in the upcoming event due to the relationship between the two countries.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had proposed to India to play all their matches in one city. ESPNcricinfo had reported that Lahore was chosen as the location where India would play all of their matches. However, the Indian board is not interested in the prospect of travelling to Pakistan.

Talking about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, a BCCI source told ANI, “India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Will tell ICC to hold its matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka.”

BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, in May, said the Indian team would be sent to Pakistan for the tournament only if the central government permitted it.

Speaking to the ANI, Shukla said, “In case of the Champion Trophy, we will do whatever the Government of India will tell us to do. We send our team only when the Government of India permits us. So we will go according to the decision of the Indian government.”