India has officially decided not to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, citing security concerns as the reason behind this decision. Instead, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested that all its matches be held in Dubai.
A source close to the BCCI shared, “This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai.” The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February 19 to March 9, 2025, with matches set to take place in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, India’s games will be relocated if the BCCI’s request is accepted.
The decision follows a recent meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, which briefly raised hopes for improved cricketing ties. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts to accommodate India’s participation, including an option for the Indian team to return home after each match, the BCCI remains steadfast in its position.
Cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have long been strained, especially since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While Pakistan has successfully hosted international teams in recent years, India has not toured Pakistan since the 2006 ODI series. The BCCI’s decision underscores the persistent security concerns and the ongoing complexities of diplomatic relations between the two neighbors.
