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Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan 'may withdraw' from hosting tournament following India's refusal to travel

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Amid lack of any official word on Indian Cricket Team's chances to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a report by Dawn, citing official sources, claimed that the hosts may withdraw from the tournament all together.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Men in Blue will not be travelling to Pakistan and is comfortable having a neutral venue for its matches, like UAE.

The tournament is scheduled for February.


The latest development comes after reports emerging that the international governing body may consider shifting the tournament entirely.


“In such a case, one of the options the government is mul­ling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don’t participate in the Champions Trophy,” Dawn quoted a source as saying and adding that the Pakistan government was looking at the issue “seriously”.

Furthermore, another report by PTI has said that the ICC has sought confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PVB), if the hybrid model is acceptable to them.

"Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India's matches in UAE and the final in Dubai," a source told PTI on Monday.

"The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai and not in Pakistan," the source added.

Meanwhile, the PCB plans to send an email, reviewed by its legal team, to the ICC, as per a PTI report. "An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision," the source told PTI.

The source also suggested potential legal ramifications for the ICC if Pakistan takes a strong stance. “There would be legal implications from commercial partners as the ICC has provided undertakings to the broadcasters, sponsors that all top cricket playing nations will participate in its tournaments," the report quoted the source as saying.

Earlier last week, Mohsin Naqvi, the top PCB executive had said that Pakistan should not be expected to “carry on with their good gestures”, pointing at the Board's flexibility toward the Indian government’s stance of not sending their cricket team to the neighbouring country.

India has not played cricket in Pakistan since 2008, with matches between the two nations taking place only at ICC tournaments.
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