Champions Trophy 2025: BCCI VP breaks silence on India’s travel to Pakistan
Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI), spoke about the possibility of India’s cricket team visiting Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Pakistan is set to host the tournament in February next year, but India’s participation is still uncertain as the BCCI awaits approval from the Indian government.
Shukla explained in an interview with an Indian news channel, “No decision has been made yet. Our policy is to always get the government’s permission for international tours. It’s up to the government to decide whether our team can go to another country or not.” He added that the BCCI will follow whatever the government decides.
India last visited Pakistan in 2008, and the two countries haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012-13.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will feature eight top teams, including India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, based on their performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The matches will be held at three venues in Pakistan: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), all of India’s games are planned to take place in Lahore.
The PCB has also set aside Rs12.80 billion to improve the three stadiums—Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium—before the event.
While India has yet to confirm, the other seven teams have already played in Pakistan, and the PCB believes India has no valid reason not to participate. Pakistan is currently the defending champion, having won the 2017 Champions Trophy in England by defeating India in the final.
