One of the major tournaments of ICC, Champions Trophy 2025 is to be held on Pakistani soil next year. This tournament will mark the return of an ICC event to Pakistan after a long time. However, due to security reasons, it seems difficult for Team India to go to Pakistan. So far, no official statement has come from the Government of India and BCCI regarding whether Team India will go to Pakistan or not. In such a situation, it is speculated that the Indian team can play its matches in the Champions Trophy in some other country, but the Pakistan Cricket Board is trying to ensure that the Indian team plays all its matches in Pakistan so that the Pakistan Board can get maximum revenue.
Meanwhile, a big statement has come from the England Cricket Board (ECB) regarding the Champions Trophy. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Richard Thompson has suggested that it is difficult to imagine the Champions Trophy without India. He said that conducting the tournament without India is not an option and if Team India does not travel to Pakistan, then many other options are available.
Jai Shah will play an important role.
Thompson is in Pakistan with ECB CEO Richard Gold. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, he said that India not playing in the Champions Trophy would not be in the interest of cricket. Thompson said that former BCCI secretary and now ICC President Jay Shah will have a big role in this. I think they will find a way. They have to find a way. ECB CEO Gold said that if you play in the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, there will be no broadcasting rights and we need to secure them. Gold said that he hopes that the Indian team will travel to Pakistan. If this does not happen then many different options are available.
Will Team India go to Pakistan?
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for a long time. Both teams face each other only in ICC tournaments. The Indian team last visited Pakistan in the year 2008. Now it will be interesting to see whether the Indian team visits Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy or plays its matches in some third country.