For some time now, there have been a lot of discussions about India’s potential participation in the Champions Trophy 2025. There have been various discussions about the possibility of hosting India’s matches in the United Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka as a backup venue ever since the International Cricket Council selected Pakistan to host the world tournament.
Recently, Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board, spoke candidly about the same subject and expressed optimism about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Aisi cheez nahi hui hai ki Indian team ki mujhe puri umeed hai, jiski wajah se woh postpone kare ya cancel kare. I sincerely hope that the Indian team will compete in the Champions Trophy in 2025. As of right now, they have not announced a date for rescheduling or canceling their trip. News18 cited Naqvi as saying, “Every team would be traveling to Pakistan for the competition.
The Champions Trophy, which takes place soon, will be Pakistan’s first significant ICC tournament to be hosted since they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka and India. Interestingly, Pakistan was well-positioned to co-host the 2011 event as well. However, following a terrifying attack on the bus of a touring Sri Lankan team in 2009, their hosting rights were revoked.
Although Pakistan has traveled India four times, namely during the 2011 World Cup, the 2012–13 white-ball bilateral series, the 2016 T20 World Cup, and the 2023 50–over World Cup, India has not visited Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008.
We will follow the government’s decision, whatever it may be: Rajeev Shukla
A few days prior, Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Indian Board of Control for Cricket, had made an opening statement on the subject. He clarified that the Indian government will have the last say on the matter.
“On it, no decision has been made. However, it is our policy to always obtain official approval before embarking on any foreign excursion. The government has the last say on whether or not our team travels to any nation. We would follow the government’s decision, Shukla said, as reported by The Indian Express.
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Many former Pakistani cricket players have already discussed this matter, and most of them agree that political matters between the two nations should remain apart from sporting matters.