BCCI Sets "Only Condition" For Team India To Fly To Pakistan For Champions Trophy 2025

The last bilateral series between the two countries took place in India in December 2012–January 2013. Only at ICC events and the Asia Cup have the two countries faced off since then.Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, stated that the Indian team will only travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy the next year if the permission of the national government is granted. The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan in February and March of the following year. This occurs in the midst of rumors in the media that India would skip the tournament in Pakistan. India hasn't participated in any cricket competitions in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup because of the hostile relations between the two countries brought on by terrorism.The last bilateral series between the two countries took place in India in December 2012–January 2013. Only at ICC events and the Asia Cup have the two countries faced off since then.Shukla stated to the ANI, "We will follow the Government of India's instructions about the Champion Trophy. Only with approval from the Indian government do we dispatch our team. Thus, we shall proceed in accordance with the Indian government's decision.

"When hosting the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan was forced to employ a hybrid approach because all of India's games—including those against Pakistan—took place in Sri Lanka. Colombo hosted the tournament final, which India won. While Pakistan had made passing references to the idea of taking a hybrid strategy to the ODI World Cup in India the year before, it was never really considered. They ended up playing every game in India at five separate venues before they were eliminated in the group stages.As ESPNcricinfo revealed earlier in May, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided that Lahore will be the only venue for India matches for the Champions Trophy that Pakistan has been given for the upcoming year.Three locations—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—have been reserved by PCB to host the two-week Champions Trophy, according to ESPNcricinfo. The final will be held in Lahore, where all of India's games would be played according to their draft schedule.The concept of consolidating India into one location is rumored to have been proposed in order to minimize logistical and security risks associated with their journey. Additionally, because its headquarters are in Lahore, which is close to the Wagah border crossing between the two nations, it offers Indian fans a somewhat easy choice for where to come.Prior to this, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the board had provided the ICC a draft schedule for the competition, which is anticipated to take place in mid-February of the following year. The eight participating members will debate it, with the India team's trip itinerary probably becoming the main cause of contention.