Champions Trophy 2025: The tension of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has increased regarding Champions Trophy 2025. There is a high possibility that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan due to poor diplomatic and political relations. However, the final decision on this has to be taken by the Government of India. If India does not travel to Pakistan, the tournament can be organized under the ‘hybrid model’.
The ICC Board meeting is being held in Colombo, in which the situation regarding the Champions Trophy may become clear to some extent. India had also refused to go to Pakistan for the Asia Cup held last year. After this, the Asia Cup was held under the ‘hybrid model’. If the Indian team does not go on Pakistan tour, then India’s matches in the Champions Trophy may be shifted to UAE.
Former PCB chief gave a big statement!
Former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood also believes that the chances of the Indian team going to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy are very low. He said, ‘It is very unlikely that they will agree to play in Pakistan. India is the richest cricket board and has a lot of influence. If they do not send their team to Pakistan, then I think countries like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will also follow their path.’
Khalid Mahmood has visited India twice in 1989 and 1999 as Pakistan’s junior and senior team manager. He said, ‘If India does not tour Pakistan, the revenue of the Champions Trophy will be affected. The cost of organizing it will increase and the profit will decrease.’
He said, ‘At this stage you can only put your side strongly and try to convince other boards to side with you. India has a lot of influence in the ICC, so adopting a tit for tat strategy will not benefit Pakistan. When the BCCI says that it cannot send its team and will play its matches outside Pakistan, it reduces the purpose of hosting an ICC event for Pakistan.’
PCB prepared the schedule but…
Let us tell you that PCB has prepared the schedule of Champions Trophy and sent it to ICC and its member countries for approval. It will be released after getting green signal from everywhere. According to this, Champions Trophy 2025 will start on 19 February in Karachi. While the final will be held in Lahore on 9 March. The opening match will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand. Also, according to the schedule, India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group.
India and Pakistan will play a match in Lahore on March 1. All the matches of India have been scheduled in Lahore. Despite all this, there has been no official confirmation from BCCI about India’s visit. The Indian team last visited Pakistan in 2008. Then under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Team India played the Asia Cup on Pakistan tour. Then Team India reached the final, where it lost to Sri Lanka by 100 runs.
