ICC won't pressurize BCCI to send Indian team to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will not put any pressure on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Notably, the 50-over tournament will be held in the Asian nation after Pakistan signed the hosting rights for the event in December 2023. However, due to uncordial political relations between the two nations, it’s highly unlikely that India will travel to the country for the cricketing event.

Recently, an ICC Board member revealed that the cricket’s governing body may ponder over alternative options for the smooth conduct of the tournament one of which might be hosting in a hybrid mode. Notably, the Asia Cup 2023 which was also held in Pakistan was conducted in a hybrid model for India and nine games out of 13 were shifted to Sri Lanka.

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As the tournament draws closer, there will be more clarity on the ‘hybrid model’ and UAE could well serve as the second location to host the ICC event. Notably, a total of eight teams will participate in the event and will be divided into two groups of four each where India’s games could be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Recently, an ICC board member revealed that the ICC can’t put pressure on any nation to go against their government to travel to a rival country.

"Every member can raise concerns for discussion at Board meetings and then it would go to a vote. But if the government (of a member nation) expressly say that they can't play there, ICC would need to look for an alternative because the ICC Board's position remains that it doesn't expect its members to go against any policy/instructions issued by its own government," a veteran administrator was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012-13

Notably, India and Pakistan don’t have any bilateral cricketing relations since 2013 when the two nations last played a series against each other. However, Pakistan have travelled to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup since then. On the other hand, India last travelled to Pakistan for Asia Cup 2008.

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In 2023, BCCI President Roger Binny and vice-president Rajiv Shukla were invited to Pakistan to watch an Asia Cup game in Pakistan by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and the duo happily accepted the invitation and paid historic visit to the country. Hence, it would be interesting to see how the events transpire in the coming months and whether India eventually visit Pakistan.