In a major setback for cricket, India has decided to stand firm on its decision not to send its team to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy, Indian media reported on Friday. Sources familiar with the matter told the Indian Express that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of its security concerns and requested that its matches be held in Dubai instead of Lahore.
“The BCCI has conveyed their concerns regarding Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. They want to play matches at a neutral venue and Dubai is the strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue,” a source told Times of India.
Another source, meanwhile, informed the Indian Express that this has been the BCCI’s long-standing stance and that there was no reason to change that.
“We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai,” the source added.
Reacting to the development, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi told India not to expect good gestures from Islamabad after New Delhi reportedly rejected the idea of travelling to Lahore for the Champions Trophy.
“In recent years, Pakistan has shown a lot of good gestures. However, we hope that we are not expected to show good gestures always,” Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, told reporters in Lahore.
For the past two months, there have been reports in Indian media regarding the Indian cricket team’s potential refusal to travel to Pakistan. Naqvi emphasized that Pakistan still wants cricket to remain separate from politics.
He clarified that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet received any official communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). “We have clearly stated that if they [the BCCI] have any concerns, they must address them in writing,” Naqvi said.
Naqvi further stated that if the BCCI formally confirms it will not send its team to Pakistan in writing, he will consult with the federal government. “If the BCCI refuses in writing, we will follow whatever decision the government of Pakistan makes,” he added.
Despite the uncertainty, Naqvi affirmed that preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy would continue as planned. He expressed optimism that the tournament would be a success and confirmed that stadium upgrades and event preparations would remain on schedule.
Pakistan is determined to host the entire 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, across three cities: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. To address security and logistical concerns, Pakistan has proposed holding all of India’s matches in Lahore, which is situated near the Wagah border, to facilitate easier arrangements.
India has not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the BCCI opted out of sending a team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, resulting in a hybrid format with the later stages held in Sri Lanka. However, Pakistan visited India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they were eliminated before the semi-finals.
The latest developments come after India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar reportedly discussed the possibility of the Indian team traveling to Pakistan for the ICC event during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad in October. This conversation, the first direct dialogue at such a level between the two nations since 2015, raised hopes for a thaw in relations and fueled speculation about the resumption of cricket ties.
