The India cricket team can’t travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 due to the situation in the country, says former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Announced as the hosts of the ICC event, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently in a stalemate with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Due to the tensions between the two nations, the Indian government has told the BCCI not to send their players to Pakistan.
The PCB vs BCCI issue
The PCB had made their stance clear: if Team India doesn’t travel for the Champions Trophy 2025, they won’t send their teams to India for the upcoming ICC events (Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and Men’s T20 World Cup 2026). The BCCI didn’t budge though and in the end, PCB gave then an offer: hold the India vs Pakistan matches in Dubai for the next years. This request like there past one’s were declined by the BCCI as well.
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On Champions Trophy 2025
Harbhajan feels that it’s confirmed that Team India won’t travel to Pakistan due to the current scenario in the nation, and since it’s just the board but the governments are involved, a solution might be difficult to find.
“I have said this before. I don’t think Team India will travel to Pakistan; the situation is suited to go there and play. People in Pakistan love cricket and the Indian team. But considering the situation, I don’t think Team India will travel. Governments are involved, and they are making the decisions,” Harbhajan told ANI.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB’s Proposed 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
