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There has been lots of chatter surrounding India’s participation within the Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled to happen in Pakistan. India and Pakistan haven’t performed a bilateral collection in over a decade as a consequence of political tensions and the Indian authorities has maintained a tough stance that the cricket crew is not going to journey to Pakistan. However, in accordance with a Cricbuzz report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provide you with a considerably unusual answer to the issue. The report claimed that PCB have written to BCCI “providing help ought to the Indian crew favor to return to India – both to Chandigarh or New Delhi – after every sport to keep away from staying in Pakistan as a consequence of safety issues”.
According to the present match schedule, India’s three group stage matches are on – February 20 (vs Bangladesh), February 23 (vs Pakistan), and March 2 (vs New Zealand). Moreover, they are going to all happen in Lahore – a venue that was reportedly chosen as a consequence of its proximity to the border.
The report said that there’s almost a week-long hole between India’s final two matches and the PCB has prompt that India can journey again house throughout that point. However, in case India attain the ultimate of the competitors, Pakistan have maintained their stance of internet hosting the match in Lahore.
Top officers of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), together with chairman Richard Thompson, have prompt that staging the Champions Trophy with out powerhouse India shouldn’t be an choice and there are “contingencies accessible” if Rohit Sharma’s crew does not journey to host nation Pakistan.
India haven’t performed in Pakistan since 2008 because of the tense relations between the 2 international locations and their journey to the South Asian nation is solely depending on authorities clearance.
With the federal government unlikely to present the BCCI permission to ship the crew to Lahore, the Champions Trophy in a hybrid mannequin appears the probably choice. Like the Asia Cup final yr, India can play their matches in a 3rd nation whereas the opposite video games will be staged in Pakistan.
The match shall be held in February-March.
“It wouldn’t be in cricket’s pursuits for India to not be enjoying within the Champions Trophy,” Thompson, who’s in Pakistan alongside ECB CEO Richard Gould, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
(With PTI inputs)
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