BCCI Confirms India Will Not Travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy, ICC Considers Hybrid Format

New Delhi : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, following advice from the Indian government. This move has thrown the tournament’s scheduling into uncertainty, with the ICC now considering the possibility of adopting a ‘hybrid’ format for the marquee event.

According to reports by ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI's decision comes after consultations with the Indian government, which has advised against sending the Indian team to Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries. This announcement has left the ICC with limited time to assess the situation and finalize the tournament’s logistics, as the Champions Trophy is set to take place in just under a year.

ICC Considering Hybrid Model

In light of the BCCI’s decision, the ICC is now reportedly contemplating a ‘hybrid’ model for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India’s matches potentially being relocated to neutral venues such as Dubai. Under this model, the tournament would still be hosted by Pakistan, but India’s participation would likely take place outside the country, avoiding any potential security or diplomatic concerns.

A BCCI source, quoted by news agency PTI, confirmed that the Indian board has communicated its stance to the ICC: “This is an ICC event, and BCCI has informed the global body that it won't travel to Pakistan. It will depend on ICC to inform the host nation about the development and then close in on the scheduling of the tournament. The convention is to announce the schedule 100 days prior to the commencement of the event,” the source stated.

The move to a hybrid format would represent a significant shift in how the Champions Trophy is traditionally structured, with India’s absence in Pakistan having the potential to disrupt the tournament’s global appeal.

Past Precedents and Diplomatic Sensitivities

This latest development comes on the back of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, who have not played any bilateral cricket since 2012 due to political reasons. The two nations only meet in global tournaments, and the Champions Trophy was expected to be a key fixture in this regard. The BCCI had previously refused to send India’s national team to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, with the tournament subsequently being moved to a neutral venue.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did give its approval for the Pakistan team to travel to India for the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. The recent ICC World Cup witnessed intense matchups, including India’s high-profile victory over Pakistan, but also showcased the increasingly complex nature of cricket diplomacy between the two nations.

PCB Chair’s Response

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, responded sharply to the BCCI’s decision, insisting that no formal discussions had taken place between the PCB and the ICC regarding the hybrid model. Speaking to The Dawn, Naqvi said, “No discussions have been held regarding a hybrid model as of today, and we are not ready to discuss such a model.”

Naqvi also emphasized that the PCB would follow the direction of the Pakistani government on this issue, particularly if India’s refusal to travel for the Champions Trophy set a precedent for future tournaments. “If we get a letter from India, I’ll have to go to my government and have to abide by their decisions. Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past, and we'd like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time. If they don’t travel for the Champions Trophy, the government will decide if Pakistan travels for any future event in India,” he added.

Diplomatic and Cricketing Implications

The growing rift between the BCCI and PCB is further compounded by diplomatic sensitivities, with the future of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan hanging in the balance. Cricket fans around the world will be closely watching how the ICC navigates this diplomatic impasse and whether it can find a solution that allows the 2025 Champions Trophy to proceed smoothly.

As the ICC and PCB now face the challenge of reconciling these differences, the decision to hold the tournament in a ‘hybrid’ format would mark another chapter in the evolving relationship between the two cricketing nations. However, with just months remaining until the tournament, the pressure is mounting to finalize a solution that satisfies all stakeholders and ensures the Champions Trophy remains one of cricket’s most prestigious events.