PCB Urges ICC To Convince BCCI For 2025 Champions Trophy Participation: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted the onus to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to secure India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan. While the tournament’s budget has been approved, crucial details like scheduling and format remain undecided.

A PCB source confirmed that the board has submitted a draft schedule proposing to host all of India’s matches, including a potential semi-final and final, in Lahore.

However, the PCB has now left it to the ICC to finalize the schedule and convince the BCCI to send its team to Pakistan.

The ICC has also allocated additional funds to address potential challenges related to India playing outside Pakistan. Despite this, the PCB’s decision to pass the buck to the ICC underscores the complexities surrounding India-Pakistan cricket relations.

India has consistently maintained that its participation in Pakistan depends on government clearance. The 2023 Asia Cup, originally scheduled entirely in Pakistan, had to be split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to India’s unwillingness to travel.

The high-stakes India-Pakistan clash is tentatively planned for March 1 in Lahore. The last time India played cricket in Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup final in Karachi.

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