India will not travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy: PCB

Author: APP

India will not travel to Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy starting in February, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday.

Deteriorating political relations, tense at the best of times, have meant the bitter rivals have not played a bilateral series for over a decade — with India last touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has received an email from the International Cricket Council (ICC), stating that the Indian board has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025,” PCB spokesman Sami Ul Hasan told AFP.

“The PCB has forwarded that email to the government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance,” Hasan added.

Pakistan is due to host the eight-nation event in three cities — Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi — from February 19 to March 9 next year but the final schedule was hanging in the balance with India yet to confirm its participation.

PCB chairman Moshin Naqvi had previously ruled out the possibility of a hybrid event that would have seen India play all its matches on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates.

“Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past, and we’d like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time,” Naqvi said in Lahore on Saturday.

“The government will decide if Pakistan travel for any future event in India if they don’t come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

“The PCB will not decide that.”

The ICC was set to release the Champions Trophy schedule this week, but the latest stand-off will likely delay that announcement.

The Champions Trophy is the premier ODI competition after the World Cup, with the upcoming event featuring Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Monday marks the 100-day countdown to the event.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field. Any cricket match between the two is among the most watched events on the global sporting calendar.

Pakistan visited India for last year’s ODI World Cup and the PCB expected the gesture to be reciprocated for the Champion’s trophy.

Pakistan was forced to stage last year’s Asia Cup using a hybrid model with India playing their matches in addition to the final in Sri Lanka.

India and Pakistan have only faced off in ICC multi-nation events since their last bilateral series in the 2012-13 season.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

Ex-minister Ibrahim Murad calls for action to combat climate change

In response to the escalating environmental challenges, Former Minister for Transport, Ibrahim Hasan Murad has…

2 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Pakistan dispatches 21st aid consignment for Gaza, Lebanon and Syria

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday dispatched its 21st relief consignment for the…

2 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Experts call for ensuring safe, harassment-free workplaces for women

The Office of the Auditor-General of Pakistan organized an awareness seminar on the Protection Against…

4 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Crucial changes finalised for Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment

Crucial changes to master plan of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research have…

4 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Challenges faced by minorities in Pakistan

In recent years, the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan has brought an increasing attention…

5 mins ago
  • Pakistan

National Curriculum Summit 2024 concludes

National Curriculum Summit 2024 concluded on Wednesday with key discussions, deliberations and recommendations on Pakistan's…

5 mins ago