PCB Requests ICC to give Clarification on not Touring to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

According to credentials, Pakistan Cricket Board is bothered about India's refusal to tour Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. As a result, the PCB has requested the International Cricket Council to give clarification.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India had communicated to the ICC last week that, security over the border is the reason for refusing to send its team to Pakistan for the marquee ODI tournament, held between February 19 to March 9, 2025.

Since 2008, India has not toured Pakistan because of political relations between the neighbors, though, Pakistan visited India for the ODI World Cup last year, but they did not reach the semi-finals.

Further, after the previous year's Asia Cup, the second major event is the Championship Trophy 2025. It's been more than a decade, Pakistan got the hosting opportunity. However, Pakistan was demanded to conduct the tournament in Sri Lanka, under a ‘hybrid model’.

PCB has written a letter to the ICC regarding clarification, meanwhile the PCB has made some arrangements for the upcoming Champions Trophy, in spite of the BCCI maintaining its stance of not sending its team to Pakistan.

The PCB has also mentioned teams like New Zealand, England, and Australia recently visiting the country without any fuss.

Further, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced, hosting the tournament will be in a hybrid model, there have been no more discussions about hosting the tournament in that format.

After, Naqvi added, “Till today, no one has discussed any ‘Hybrid Model’ with us nor are we willing to talk about it. Although we have been showing good gestures for the last few years, no one should expect us to do it all the time.”

If Pakistan decides to withdraw from hosting at the last minute, multiple reports suggest that alternative venues like South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to host the Champions Trophy in 2025.

India’s presence is pivotal to the commercial success of the ICC event, a leading Pakistani daily on Tuesday cited sources saying that Pakistan might pull out of the tournament should it be shifted out of the country.