Team India is less likely to travel to Pakistan, BCCI to clear its stance in AGM

BCCI is not ready to send Team India to Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy scheduled to take place next year. It will resultantly lead to a clash between BCCI and PCB in the ICC’s series meeting to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on July 19 and 22.

BCCI will be represented by Jay Shah, and PCB Chairman Nqvi will present Pakistan’s case. Shah has already left for Sri Lanka where he will attend the annual General Meeting (AGM) of ICC which will conclude on Monday, July 22. Jay Shah will also attend the Women’s Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan.

Team India Will Not Travel to Pakistan

According to reports India is not ready to send its team to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy. Although, this discussion is not part of AGM’s agenda, both BCCI and PCB will likely take this up in the ‘any other business’ category.

BCCI will mention that they are not getting government approval as the reason behind team India’s inability to send a team to Pakistan for the marquee event scheduled to take place next year.

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Champions Trophy is Returning After 9 Years

The Champions Trophy is making a comeback after nine years as it was discontinued after the last season which was held in England and Wales and Pakistan lifted the final that time defeating India in the finals. Pakistan is hosting the Champions Trophy for the first time and so far India is scheduled to play all its matches in Lahore, they are slated to face Bangladesh on February 20, New Zealand on February 23, and Pakistan on March 1.

The tournament will begin on February 19, 2025, and will conclude on March 9 in Lahore, there will be a reserve day for the Final, i.e., March 10, if the match is abandoned due to bad weather. Apart from Karachi and Lahore, a few matches will take place in Rawalpindi too.

According to BCCI sources, India is not going to travel to Pakistan, the ICC has also allocated an additional budget for any exigency plan.

A PTI quoted a source who said, “The ICC Management is recommending additional costs just in case it is necessary to play some matches outside Pakistan if such a situation arises later on.”

India is likely to propose their plan to host the tournament in a hybrid model where India will play their matches in the UAE.

A PCB source who is working closely with the organizing committee told PTI that

“If the Indian government declines permission, it has to be in writing, and it is mandatory on the BCCI to provide that letter to the ICC now. It is a fact that we are insistent that the BCCI must inform the ICC about its travel plans to Pakistan at least 5-6 months before the tournament and in writing.”

BCCI to Propose Hybrid Model

The BCCI has cleared its stance stating that playing cricket in Pakistan is completely a government’s call, and even in the 2023 Asia Cup, PCB hosted the tournament in a hybrid model, and all its games were held in Sri Lanka on ‘Hybrid Model.’