Champions Trophy 2025 to have India vs Pakistan match in Lahore, PCB picks Lahore as venue to host Team India's all matches
Champions Trophy 2025: While India's travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 remains an uncertainty, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has earmarked Lahore's Gadaffi Stadium to host Team India's matches in the tournament, which is slated to be hosted by Pakistan next year.
Notably, Champions Trophy 2025, an eight-team ICC event, is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February-March 2025. The top three venues to host the tournament in Pakistan are Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The details of the exact schedule are yet to be revealed, but it has been learnt that all the league stage matches for Team India, including the high-octane India vs Pakistan, will be staged in Lahore only.
The PCB officials zeroed in on the decision following a lot of deliberations. The primary rationale behind earmarking Lahore to host India is that it's a border city with Wagah Border in the vicinity. The Indian fans can cross the Wagah Border easily if they wish to watch the matches.
However, there is a huge ambiguity around India's travel to Pakistan, which is a massive concern for Pakistan and the ICC. With the given circumstances and tensions between the two countries, the Men in Blue are unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Moreover, a former ICC administrator had earlier conceded that it has absolutely no right to intervene in matters which are as serious as India vs Pakistan.
"ICC Board's position remains that it doesn't expect its members to go against any policy/instructions issued by its own government," said a veteran ICC official.
Team India remains uncertain for Champions Trophy 2025
Notably, India has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup for obvious reasons. Earlier it was security concerns, now the political tensions between the two countries have become a huge reason for India not travelling to Pakistan for any form of engagement.
It's interesting to note that Pakistan was also the host of Asia Cup 2023, however, the tournament eventually shaped into a hybrid model, where Team India's matches were held in Sri Lanka, and a few games were held in Pakistan.
A similar pattern is expected to be followed if Team India reserves its decision not to travel to Pakistan whatsoever. In such a scenario, the hybrid model would be the most viable option for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the PCB has already submitted the blueprint for the Champions Trophy 2025 to the International Cricket Council (ICC). All the details, including venues and dates, are being finalised.
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