The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played in Pakistan’s Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi as the marquee tournament is slated to start on February 19 – with the final on March 9.
According to a report in The Telegraph UK, India’s matches in the Champions Trophy is expected to be moved out of Pakistan, including the final, if they qualify.
The summit clash may be moved out of Lahore and be held in Dubai, the report adds. With the final on March 9, it may be till March 6 for the venue to be confirmed. The same may apply for the semi-finals too with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah also being considered.
India hasn’t sent its team to Pakistan since July 2008 due to tense political relations between the two countries.
This comes after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday expressed confidence that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy would be held in the country and all teams, including arch-rivals India, would participate in the tournament.
“The Indian team should come. I don’t see them cancel or postpone coming here and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Naqvi said.
He also said that Pakistan was prepared to host all the teams including India and preparations were on schedule.
“The stadiums will also be ready to host the matches on schedule and any remaining work would be completed after the tournament,” he added.
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla had earlier stated that the final call about India playing cricket in Pakistan, b it for the Champions Trophy, will be taken by the Indian government.
Last year, BCCI cited denial of permission from the Indian government behind its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. After much deliberations, the continental tournament was co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
A recent report claimed that as per the draft schedule of the tournament, which was last held in 2017, India along with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh have been placed together in Group A while Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan are in Group B.
The Champions Trophy is the first global ICC event Pakistan will be hosting since the 1996 ODI World Cup which they co-hosted alongside India and Sri Lanka.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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