A report by Dainik Jagran claims that the BCCI has now made it amply clear that no such proposal from the PCB regarding Champions Trophy 2025 has reached it. This clarification at the BCCI comes at a time when discussions over India’s participation in the Champions Trophy continue, as the Indian government has so far not said anything about the team’s travel to Pakistan.
Reports have emerged that PCB has mooted a proposal that allows the Indian cricket team to return to Delhi or Chandigarh after every game if there are security concerns. However, the BCCI official once again stressed that no such proposal has come forth, and thus, the final decision lies with the government of India.
The two countries haven’t played a bilateral series in well over a decade, with their only meetings coming in international tournaments owing to their political tensions. With India’s participation still in doubt, Pakistan has already made its way to India to compete in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The PCB is said to be bracing itself for the eventuality that India would not travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy. But it is still adamant on hosting the tournament’s final in Lahore even if the arch-rivals reach there. This is likely to be debated when some top brass of the Board meet during the ICC Board meeting from October 18 to 21 in Dubai.
A PCB source has revealed, “The PCB is keen to host the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan, but it’s also psychologically prepared for the eventuality where the Indian government might not allow their team to play in the country, and that could well see matches being staged in the UAE as well.” The source went on to claim that the PCB demands to stage the final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore regardless of India’s participation.
Bilateral cricketing ties between the two sides were frozen after Pakistan’s terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 killed scores and injured hundreds more. If that is the case, against that backdrop, the BCCI could look at a hybrid model for this edition, too, pulling out matches to Sri Lanka or Dubai as they did during last year’s Asia Cup. The Gaddafi Stadium, which hosted the 1996 World Cup final, is already getting capacity increases.
