ISLAMABAD: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put the onus on the powerful Modi government to give permission to the cricket team to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy event. Pakistan is all set to host the ICC Champions Trophy in February next year, however, the issue of the Indian Team visiting Pakistan is still unresolved.
Talking to a media outlet on Monday, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said that the Indian national squad would tour Pakistan only if the incumbent Indian government granted permission adding that BCCI would act accordingly as per the government decision.
“In the case of the Champion Trophy, we would act the way the government of India would tell us to do. We send our team only when the government of India gives us permission,” Rajeev Shukla said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already started working in shaping up proper security plans for the Indian cricket team before and during the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan Cricket Board has already put forward three venues including Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the earlier draft schedule whereas the governing body would take feedback from the participating nations on it.
The eight-nation mega event is likely to take over two weeks, however, the exact dates are yet to be announced.
ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan
According to media reports Pakistan has decided to minimise India’s travelling as a security measure and opted to arrange all Indian matches of the first round in Lahore. It is worth noting that India played in Pakistan last time in the 2008 Asia Cup.
The mega event in Pakistan would mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after a pause of eight years after Pakistan defeated India in the final in 2017.
The teams confirmed for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy comprising Pakistan (hosts), India, England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
