The highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 returns to the cricketing calendar next February, after a seven-year hiatus. Pakistan, the reigning champions, are set to host the tournament, but a familiar cloud hangs over the proceedings – India's participation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already submitted a draft schedule to the ICC, with one crucial detail shrouded in uncertainty: India's travel plans. Memories of the recent Asia Cup are still fresh, where India's matches were controversially relocated to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. According to a report in India Today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains firm in its stance – they won't be sending their team to Pakistan.
"The BCCI will officially notify the ICC of their desire to have their Champions Trophy matches held in a neutral venue, preferably Dubai or Sri Lanka," declared a BCCI official. This follows India's absence from the Asia Cup held in Pakistan, forcing the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to stage Rohit Sharma's men's matches elsewhere. The BCCI seems intent on replicating this approach for the Champions Trophy, expressing willingness to play in either Dubai or Sri Lanka.
This reluctance stems from the over-a-decade-long suspension of bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan. Political tensions have meant that fans can only witness these arch-rivals clash under the auspices of ICC or ACC tournaments. Even with Pakistan scheduled to visit India for the upcoming World Cup, the BCCI remains unyielding.
Earlier, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla made India's stance clear: "Our decision on the Champions Trophy hinges entirely on government approval. The team's participation rests solely on that permission." This throws the ball firmly into the court of the Indian government.
The PCB, naturally, is eager to host the Indian team. Their draft schedule submitted to the ICC features three Pakistani venues, with India's match earmarked for Lahore. This choice, it's claimed, is based on a desire to minimise travel security risks. Additionally, Lahore's proximity to the Indian border is seen as potentially facilitating travel for Indian cricket fans. The city is also slated to host the tournament's final.
However, if India remains resolute as they were with the Asia Cup, Pakistan could find themselves in a fix. The ICC might be forced to reconsider the entire hosting arrangement. But this time, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, appears determined to stage all matches on home soil.
The upcoming months will be crucial in determining whether the Champions Trophy unfolds in Pakistan as planned, or whether India's absence necessitates a change of scenery. The cricketing world waits with bated breath to see if this marquee tournament can overcome this significant hurdle.
