As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awaits Indian government’s approval for travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, there is good news. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is set to meet Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar in Islamabad during the SCO summit on October 15-16. It could be an ice-breaker and positive for PCB. India haven’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008 Asia Cup.
As per Pakistani media, Naqvi who is also the country’s Interior Minister, will extend an invitation to Jaishankar to attend the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February next year.
As per a Cricket Pakistan report, Naqvi will brief Jaishankar regarding security arrangements and protocols. Apart from that, Nqvi will also assure Indian FM of Pakistan’s preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC delegation’s visit.
What does BCCI say?
So far, the Indian government has not allowed the Indian Cricket Team to visit Pakistan for any event, including ICC ones. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla confirmed that the incoming ICC chief Jay Shah and the Indian govt will take the final decision.
“As far as the Champions Trophy is concerned, Pakistan is hosting that tournament. Last year as well, the Asia Cup was in Pakistan and we had adopted a hybrid model where India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka. Until now, there have been no discussions in BCCI for that tournament, and we have not come up with a decision. We have good news that our BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will become the ICC Chairman. So, he will be there in ICC as independent Chairman and will take a decision on the matter,” Rajiv Shukla was quoted by India Today.
Tentative ICC Champions Trophy Schedule
Group A – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand
Group B – England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan.
ICC Champions Trophy 2024 Schedule
- February 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India – Lahore
- February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Karachi
- February 22: Australia vs England – Lahore
- February 23: New Zealand vs India – Lahore
- February 24: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Rawalpindi
- February 25: Afghanistan vs England – Lahore
- February 26: Australia vs South Africa – Rawalpindi
- February 27: Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Lahore
- February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia – Rawalpindi
- March 1: Pakistan vs India – Lahore
- March 2: South Africa vs England – Rawalpindi
- March 5 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Karachi
- March 6 Semi-final: TBC vs TBC – Rawalpindi
- March 9 Final: TBC vs TBC – Lahore
