On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that India will not participate in the Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan is scheduled to host.
The decision stems from ongoing political tensions that have barred the two nations from participating in bilateral cricket series for over a decade. The last time India toured Pakistan was for the Asia Cup in 2008.
PCB spokesperson Sami Ul Hasan reported that the PCB received a notification from the ICC stating that the Indian board would not send its team to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Hasan also noted that the PCB had sought further advice and direction from the Pakistani government. Pakistan plans to host the eight-nation tournament in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi from February 19 to March 9 next year. However, with India’s participation now out of the question, finalizing the event’s schedule remains in limbo.
PCB chairman Moshin Naqvi previously ruled out the possibility of a hybrid event allowing India to play its matches in neutral venues like the United Arab Emirates. “Pakistan has extended considerable goodwill to India in the past, and we should not always expect such gestures in return,” Naqvi commented in Lahore.
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Naqvi further stated that the Pakistani government, rather than the PCB, would decide whether Pakistan should participate in future events hosted by India.
The ICC plans to release the Champions Trophy schedule this week, although the current standoff may cause a delay. The Champions Trophy ranks as a premier ODI competition, second only to the World Cup, featuring top cricketing nations such as Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
With the 100-day countdown to the event starting on Monday, the PCB had anticipated reciprocal participation from India, especially given Pakistan’s involvement in last year’s ODI World Cup in India. Last year’s Asia Cup used a hybrid format, with India playing their matches and the final in Sri Lanka. This continued the limited engagements between India and Pakistan in ICC events since their last bilateral series in the 2012-13 season.
