Will Indian team travel back to their country after every Champions Trophy game?

According to a report from India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied receiving any proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding India’s stay during the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan in February-March next year.

Earlier in the week, an Indian sports website reported that the PCB had presented a travel plan to the BCCI in an effort to secure India’s participation in the tournament. The proposed plan reportedly suggested that the Indian team return to either Delhi or Chandigarh after each match to address their security concerns while playing in Pakistan.

However, as per Dainik Jagran, a BCCI official stated that no such proposal from the PCB had been received. The official further emphasized that if such a plan had been presented, it would have been rejected outright. He also reiterated that the final decision on whether India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy rests with the Indian government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the proposed schedule, India is expected to play their matches in Lahore. However, if India declines to participate, there is a possibility that the tournament could be conducted under a hybrid model. The PCB has identified Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the potential venues for the tournament, which is slated to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025.

Earlier, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, who is currently leading the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, expressed optimism about India’s participation. During an interaction with Indian journalists attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Pakistan, Sharif voiced his belief that the Indian cricket team would be willing to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

Sharif remarked, “If you ask the Indian team, they will say they want to come and play in Pakistan. It’s the decision-makers who are preventing this.” He also encouraged both nations to set aside their past tensions and move forward in the spirit of sportsmanship.