The cricketing world is witnessing the T20 World Cup 2024 fold in front of their eyes. With every passing day, the tournament has only got livelier. With the ICC event entering the business end, the 20-nation tournament will be reduced to the final eight.
Amidst the T20 World Cup, the preparations for the next ICC event are already underway. The ICC Champions Trophy will be held in 2025, in the month of February. Pakistan will host the 50-over ICC tournament in under a year from now.
However, there are always concerns of hosting cricket tournaments in Pakistan, let alone an ICC event. The biggest cause of concern would be the participation of Team India.
India, and the BCCI, rejected the chance to travel to Pakistan for the recent Asia Cup 2023. Moreover, there are high chances that BCCI would not allow Rohit Sharma & Co. to travel to Pakistan, even for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
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The Indian Team has not played in Pakistan for over 15 years now, due to the political fringes between the two nations. Moreover, they do not even contest in any bilateral tournaments. India and Pakistan only lock horns in ACC or ICC tournaments.
Amidst the rumours of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, Team India's participation remains a major doubt. The ICC has proposed a hybrid model to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
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Will Champions Trophy 2025 be conducted in a hybrid model?
BCCI put forth the idea of holding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid model. The Asia Cup 2023 was scheduled in the same hybrid model, that prevented India to visit Pakistan.
India's matches will be hosted outside Pakistan, while the rest of the games are hosted within the domestic boundaries of the country. As per IANS reports, PCB has rejected ICC's idea of the hybrid model.
The PCB is adamant on hosting whole of the ICC Champions Trophy inside Pakistan. Moreover, they have also presented their idea of scheduling the tournament.
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When will ICC Champions Trophy 2025 start?
According to reports, the PCB has chalked out a plan to schedule the upcoming ICC event. The CT 2025 would start on 19 February, with the final to be played on March 09, 2025. The three-week long tournament will be hosted across three major venues, in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore.
Where could India play their ICC Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan?
If the Indian team were to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year, they would play their matches in Lahore. A source of PCB stated media outlet IANS, that the Indian team will play all their matches in Lahore, because of the city's proximity too India.
The lack of commuting within Pakistan would mean team India's security concerns are wiped out. The fans can also access Lahore far easily, over Karachi or Rawalpindi. The city is placed near to the Wagah Border, and the fans can come to watch their superstars play, in Pakistan.
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We have not opted for the hybrid model. However, we have given this leverage that India’s matches can be played in Lahore only. This way, the team will not be required to move around cities within Pakistan and its security can be well maintained in Lahore, the source said to IANS.
“India can be based in Lahore for the entire tournament. This would minimize logistical and security complications associated with their travel between cities. The proximity of Lahore to Wagah Border Crossing is also going to be more suitable for Indian fans. However, the question remains, if India would accept and participate in the event”, the PCB source concluded.
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