The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Sunday that India had informed the International Cricket Council about its unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled in February-March next year.
“The PCB has received an e-mail from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The PCB has forwarded the e-mail to the Government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance,” said a PCB spokesperson.
The PCB made no further comments on the ICC e-mail but its chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, had said on Friday that Pakistan would unveil its policy when they get something in writing from the ICC.
The BCCI had earlier intimated to the global cricket body about India’s inability to travel to the neighbouring nation, leaving the PCB with no option but to organise the Champions Trophy in the ‘Hybrid Model’.
Naqvi had also said that the ‘Hybrid Model’ was unacceptable to Pakistan.
India has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2008 when they last came for the Asia Cup under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy. Pakistan has toured India for a bilateral white-ball series in 2012-13, the T20 World Cup in 2016 and the 50-over World Cup last year.
As reported earlier, India will play all its matches in Dubai and the high-profile India vs Pakistan tie will also be held in the UAE.
“This is an ICC event and the BCCI has informed the global body that it won’t travel to Pakistan. It will depend on the ICC to inform the host nation about the development and then close in on the scheduling of the tournament. The convention is to announce the schedule 100 days prior to the commencement of the event,” a BCCI source had told PTI on condition of anonymity a few days back.
Dubai is the best location for India’s matches as it has the highest capacity among three stadiums, and all the essential infrastructure is well in place after hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup last month.
Last year, the Asia Cup, which was hosted by Pakistan, had to be held in a ‘Hybrid Model’ after India refused to tour the country.
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Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
