The PCB announced on Sunday that India would not go to Pakistan to play in the February Champions Trophy that will have eight teams. The deteriorating political ties, which are tense even at the best of times, have meant that the two arch-enemies have not contested any bilateral series for more than ten years, the last being an India tour to Pakistan back in 2008 for the Asia Cup. ‘The Pakistan Cricket Board has received an email from the ICC (International Cricket Council), stating that the Indian board has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025,’ said PCB spokesman Sami ul Hasan to AFP, Reports Today.
“The PCB has forwarded that email to the government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance,” Hasan added.
Pakistan is to hold this eight-nation competition over three cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi starting 19 February through to 9 March next year whose last schedule has remained a quandary with India yet to assure its attendance.
Earlier, Naqvi as chairman PCB had dismissed the idea of a hybrid event where India would play all matches in neutral locations in the United Arab Emirates.
‘Pakistan in the past has extended such great gestures to India and we would like to place it on record that India should not be under such expectations again and again,’ Naqvi remarked in Lahore on Saturday.
‘The government will take such a decision whether or not to send a team to India for any future tour if they are not willing to bring the Champions Trophy to Pakistan. ‘
‘The PCB will not decide that.’
The ICC was expected to announce the schedule for the Champions Trophy in a matter of days, however, it seems this stand-off will put such announcement on hold for a while.
The Champions Trophy is the second most prestigious competition in one day international cricket after the World Cup with the upcoming event having teams such as Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
The 100 days countdown for the championship commences on Monday.
‘In the previous ODI World Cup held in India, Pakistan toured the country and so the PCB assumed that even for the Champions Trophy, they would be coming to Pakistan,’ said Khan.
Last year’s Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan had to be played in a hybrid model as India only played few matches and the rest of their matches and final were played in Sri Lanka.
Ever since their last bilateral series, which took place in the 2012-13 season, India and Pakistan have met each other only in ICC multi-nation competitions.
