New Delhi: It’s official: Team India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) conveyed India’s decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hindustan Times reported quoting a PCB spokesperson.
The PCB subsequently forwarded ICC’s mail to the Pakistani government, seeking its advice.
It was always on the cards that India won’t play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, which the latter are scheduled to host from February 19-March 9, 2025. However, Pakistan have been equally stubborn about staging all matches on their soil, including India’s.
PCB reportedly turned down a proposal to ‘stage’ India’s matches on neutral territory, like the UAE.
Pakistan even suggested that Rohit Sharma’s men could play all their games in Lahore, which is the nearest venue from India, but that was not agreeable.
Now, the ball is in the court of the Shahbaz Sharif government.
They have to either climb down from their stand and agree to India playing their matches outside Pakistan, pull out as tournament hosts, or take the extreme step of not participating at all.
Because of the drama over Team India, ICC hasn’t yet been able to finalise the schedule of the tournament.
Former captain Rashid Latif feels Pakistan will pull out of the tournament.
“We can say that India does not want to play bilateral matches, but you can’t deny the ICC events as you already have signed it. India has to make solid ground. If India doesn’t come this time, Pakistan will take a big step by not participating in the tournament,” Latif told Geo News.
Last year, the Asia Cup was held in Pakistan, but India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka.
The Indian team last toured Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup.
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