It is exceedingly doubtful, according to senior Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, that the Indian cricket team will go to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Gupta suggested that the tournament would use a hybrid concept, with many of the matches perhaps taking place at neutral locations, in a widely shared video debate.
“The Indian team’s participation in Pakistan is ‘99.9% improbable,’ citing ongoing security concerns and diplomatic sensitivities,” Gupta said.
Gupta declared that it was “99.9%” improbable that the Indian team will play in the event in Pakistan, citing continued security concerns and diplomatic sensitivity as the main reasons.
He stressed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) must come up with a practical solution that is comparable to the Asia Cup arrangements.
“Given the complexities and time constraints, it seems improbable that India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” said Gupta. “The ICC will have to explore alternative arrangements, as the situation is markedly different from the Asia Cup where multiple claims were made about venue changes.”
Rumour has it that the Champions Trophy is being considered for locations in Dubai and Sri Lanka. Due to the extreme heat in Dubai, Sri Lanka was originally selected for the tournament; however, recent changes in the weather have made Dubai a more attractive option.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla had refuted rumours that the Indian cricket squad wouldn’t go to Pakistan to compete for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Over the phone, Shukla clarified to The Print, saying, “We are unsure of the source of this information. Regarding this, BCCI has not released any official information.”
