The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a verbal proposal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow the Indian cricket team to play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Pakistan and return to India on the same day, if security concerns prevent the team from staying in Pakistan overnight. The proposal suggests that India could base itself in New Delhi or Chandigarh and use chartered flights to travel to Lahore for their scheduled matches.
According to a source from the PCB, these discussions have only taken place verbally and nothing has been formalized in writing. The proposal is seen as a diplomatic move by the PCB to ensure India’s participation in the tournament, despite longstanding security concerns between the two countries. The Indian cricket team has not toured Pakistan since 2008, and tensions have made India’s participation in Pakistan-hosted events highly unlikely.
The Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, with matches scheduled in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. Due to Lahore’s proximity to the Indian border, the PCB has tentatively scheduled India’s group stage matches in the city to make the logistics easier. India is slated to play three group matches: on February 20 against Bangladesh, February 23 against Pakistan, and March 2 against New Zealand.
The PCB has emphasized that Lahore will remain the venue for the tournament final, regardless of whether India participates in Pakistan or not. Lahore’s strategic location close to the Indian border makes the option of chartered flights to and from India a feasible solution for India’s participation without requiring extended stays in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering a hybrid model for the tournament due to the uncertainty surrounding India’s participation. This model would involve hosting some of the matches outside of Pakistan, with alternative venues like Dubai or Sri Lanka being explored as potential locations for India’s games. This approach is being considered to address India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan and to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.
The PCB’s proposal is seen as a significant diplomatic step in trying to resolve the issue of India’s involvement, and it remains to be seen how the BCCI will respond to the verbal discussions. With a long history of strained relations, the upcoming Champions Trophy may provide another litmus test for the future of cricket diplomacy between the two nations.
