Kathmandu: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India will not participate in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. ESPNcricinfo reports that the BCCI has formally requested the ICC to find an alternative arrangement, with the Indian team not traveling to Pakistan for the tournament.
As the host nation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing for a potential eight-team competition, but India’s decision has raised questions about the tournament’s logistics. The ICC is considering a hybrid model, with some matches potentially being held outside Pakistan, in locations such as Dubai, as India has requested to play its matches in neutral venues. Sri Lanka has also emerged as a possible alternative venue.
The participating teams for the Champions Trophy will include India, Pakistan, Australia, England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and South Africa. However, with India’s withdrawal from traveling to Pakistan, discussions around the tournament format and venues are ongoing.
Although the Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2025, the full match schedule has not yet been released. The Pakistan Cricket Board has requested formal written confirmation of India’s decision regarding the tournament.