“If Indian Government…”PCB’s strict demand for BCCI ahead of the Champions trophy

The Pakistan Cricket Board is asking the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a letter that shows the Indian government won’t allow the men’s cricket team to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

A spokesman from the BCCI recently mentioned that the team won’t be going to Pakistan for the big tournament happening in early 2025. They also said that the BCCI will ask for a mix of playing at home and away. According to news from PTI, a person from the PCB said that the BCCI needs to give written information to the ICC about this situation.

“If the Indian government refuses permission, they must do so in writing, and the BCCI is required to send that letter to the ICC immediately,” a PCB official involved with the organizing committee told news agency PTI.

“We are firm on our stance that the BCCI should notify the ICC about their plans to travel to Pakistan at least 5-6 months before the event and in writing,” the senior PCB official said, as reported by the news agency.

The ICC is set to hold its yearly meeting in Colombo on July 19. There are no plans to discuss India playing in the UAE under a ‘Hybrid model’. However, the ICC has allocated extra funds if the tournament takes place in two countries.

The Indian cricket board said that the choice to go to Pakistan is up to the government. The Indian team didn’t go to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, which was supposed to happen there. So, the games were played in a mix of places, with Sri Lanka hosting all of India’s games and some others as well.

A person from the BCCI recently explained the board’s position for the ICC event. “India won’t go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. We’ll ask the ICC to have the games in Dubai or Sri Lanka,” the person said, as reported by the news agency ANI.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said that the decision about traveling is up to the government. “For the Champion Trophy, we will follow whatever the Government of India tells us to do. We only send our team when the Government of India allows us. So, we will act based on the Indian government’s decision,” Shukla told ANI earlier.

The Champions Trophy starts on February 19 in Karachi. PCB has made a plan for the tournament where all of India’s games, including a possible semifinal and final, are set for Lahore. The much-awaited India vs Pakistan match is planned for March 1 according to the plan.