The PCB announced on Sunday that India will not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy, starting in February.
Source: NDTV
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that India has declined to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan, set to begin in February 2025. Due to strained diplomatic relations, the two nations have not played a bilateral series in over a decade. PCB spokesman Sami Ul Hasan shared that the International Cricket Council (ICC) informed the PCB about India’s decision, which has now been escalated to the Pakistani government for further guidance.
The Champions Trophy, planned across Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi from February 19 to March 9, is facing uncertainty as India has yet to confirm their participation. PCB chairman Moshin Naqvi has dismissed the possibility of a hybrid model with neutral grounds, stating that Pakistan “has shown great gestures to India in the past” and may not continue to make such concessions.
The ICC was poised to announce the tournament’s schedule shortly, but this new development may delay its release. With 100 days left until the Champions Trophy, featuring cricket powerhouses such as Australia, England, and South Africa, the Pakistan Cricket Board awaits the Pakistani government’s decision on how to proceed.
India and Pakistan have only encountered each other in ICC events since their last bilateral series in 2012-13. In a recent example of sports diplomacy, Pakistan participated in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India, and the PCB had hoped for reciprocity for the Champions Trophy.
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