In a significant development, the Indian cricket team has opted out of traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to ongoing strained relations between the two nations. A BCCI source revealed to ANI that India would request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka or Dubai.
The ICC Champions Trophy, set to take place between February and March 2025 in Pakistan, marks the first instance since the 2008 Asia Cup that India has refused to play in Pakistan. A bilateral series between the two countries, held from December 2012 to January 2013 in India, remains their last mutual engagement outside of ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.
Despite suggestions from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host India’s matches in Lahore, the Indian cricket authorities remain firm on their stance. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has stated that any decision regarding participation would align with the directives from the Indian government. A similar approach was taken during last year’s Asia Cup, which saw matches involving India played in Sri Lanka.
