India won’t travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

Ending all speculations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially made it clear that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

The board officially communicated its stance to the Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday. The Champions Trophy is to be held across three cities of Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi —from February 19 to March 9 next year. The BCCI has cited security concerns for its decision. Instead, the BCCI has now requested them to shift its matches to Dubai.

Though its stance was clear, the BCCI made it official on Friday as the schedule of the matches had to be announced latest by November 11. Any delay, as per BCCI sources, would have unnecessarily complicated the matter.

Since the Asia Cup, the BCCI has been pushing for a hybrid model and had suggested Sri Lanka and the UAE as the venues for India’s matches.

It is understood that the decision to not travel to Pakistan was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Amit Shah. Earlier this year, there were speculations that the Indian team might travel to Pakistan after Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar’s visit to the neighbouring country.

However, the BCCI always followed the Indian government’s stand that cricketing ties will not be restored until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

Tourney to be held from February 19

The Champions Trophy is to be held across three cities of Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi — from February 19 to March 9 next year. The BCCI has cited security concerns for its decision.