Sun Sep 15 14:35:23 UTC 2024: ## India’s Participation in 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan Remains Uncertain

The participation of the Indian cricket team in the 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, remains shrouded in uncertainty. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to confirm their travel plans, citing a need for approval from the Indian government.

Former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan has appealed to Indian cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid to urge the BCCI to send Team India to the tournament. Khan believes that politics should be kept separate from cricket and that the fans would be thrilled to see India and Pakistan compete. He also suggested that Pakistan should reciprocate and refuse to participate in any future events in India if India fails to travel for the Champions Trophy.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed a February 19 – March 9, 2025, schedule for the tournament, with all matches taking place in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. The PCB has also rejected a hybrid model, which would have seen India play their matches in a neutral venue, as was the case with the 2023 Asia Cup.

ICC officials have recently visited Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the event, which, if it remains in Pakistan, would be the first major international cricket tournament hosted solely by the nation.

The BCCI’s decision on whether to send their team to Pakistan will likely hinge on political considerations and could have far-reaching consequences for the future of bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan.

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