New Delhi (Newsdesk) Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah spoke for the first time about the possibility of the Indian cricket team visiting Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February to March, but India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the BCCI will have to seek formal approval from its government to visit Pakistan.
In an interview given to an Indian newspaper, the secretary of the Indian Cricket Board, Jay Shah, was asked about the possibility of India visiting Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
In response to the question, Jay Shah said that the BCCI has not yet taken any final decision regarding their cricket team’s visit to Pakistan, but the BCCI will review the situation and take a decision at the appropriate time.
He also stated that no position has been taken by the government, but we will take a final decision when the matter approaches.
It should be noted that there have been reports in the Indian media regarding BCCI sources that the Indian team will not visit Pakistan for the next ICC event.
Further reports stated that the board has officially proposed Dubai and Sri Lanka as hybrid venues to host the matches of the Indian cricket team.
Earlier, India had refused to come to Pakistan to participate in the Asia Cup 2023. As a result, almost all of India’s matches in Pakistan were played in Sri Lanka.
It may also be noted that India has not visited Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tension between the two neighboring countries.
According to the PCB’s proposed schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy, matches between 8 teams will be played at 3 venues Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, while all India matches will be played in Lahore.
PCB has allocated 12 billion rupees 80 crores for the upgradation of 3 stadiums. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium will be illuminated before the event.
Apart from India, all the 8 participating teams in the Champions Trophy have already agreed to play in Pakistan and the PCB believes that there is no compelling reason why India should not come there.
The proposed dates for the Champions Trophy are from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan will defend the Champions Trophy last played in 2017, where Pakistan defeated India in the final.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by pipanews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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