The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials have reportedly reassured Pakistan that they will participate and send their team for the Champions Trophy 2025. This comes after the officials met PCB chief Moshin Naqvi at the ICC’s annual meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pakistan is keen on hosting the entire tournament alone and is reportedly against the hybrid model proposal.
Earlier, reports had stated that Afghanistan, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, could follow India’s footsteps by not sending their teams for CT 2025, which is scheduled to be held in February-March.
Afghanistan to send team to Pakistan for CT 2025
The Afghanistan officials reportedly dismissed rumours of not willing to send a side for their first Champions Trophy event in 2025. Additionally, a discussion on a tri-series betwenn AFG, PAK and UAE was also a part of the conversation between the officials.
“The discussions also included A team tours to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and the possibility of a Youth Tri-Series against Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, with the dates and venues to be confirmed,” ACB stated in a press release.
No discussion between BCCI, PCB over CT 2025
“It wasn’t on the agenda so it wasn’t brought up or discussed during the Annual General Meeting,” said an official who attended the AGM. A BCCI official, who was present at the ICC meeting for all four days, went on to say that the Champions Trophy 2025 is still a fair distance away, and that the apex cricket body would take care of everything.
“It isn’t a bilateral where two boards will hold discussions. No dialogue happened between us and PCB on the Champions Trophy. Since it wasn’t on any of the agendas, it wasn’t discussed during the AGM too. It is still time away and ICC will handle it,” said a top BCCI official.
