An individual knowledgeable of the negotiations has revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested March 1 for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and India in Lahore. The International Cricket Council (ICC), the boards of the seven other participating nations, and the official broadcaster have all received this revised schedule.
Bangladesh and New Zealand join Pakistan and India in Group A, and Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan form Group B. Each team will play the three teams in its group once, and the top two teams will play in the semifinals.
Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will host three, seven, and five matches of the ICC Champions Trophy, respectively.
The tournament will begin in Karachi on February 19 and conclude with the final in Lahore on March 9. In case of bad weather, the final will have a reserve day on March 10.
Under the current schedule, Karachi and Rawalpindi will each host a semifinal. However, suppose India makes it through to the last four, For security reasons and due to the city’s proximity to India. In that case, Pakistan plans to accommodate the Indian team throughout the tournament, shifting their semifinal to Lahore.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be one of three venues used during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, with all of India’s matches to be played there for logistical and security reasons [KM Chaudary/AP]
Can India travel to Pakistan?
India’s government has barred the national cricket team from traveling to Pakistan for many years because of ongoing political tensions between the neighbors.
India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for last year’s 50-over Asia Cup resulted in a costly logistical nightmare for tournament organizers, with Sri Lanka stepping in to co-host all the India games and the final.
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has previously stated that their government’s advice will guide a decision about whether to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Pakistan, however, traveled to India in late 2023 for the 50-over World Cup after their government greenlit the tour, opening up the slim possibility that India would do likewise for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India last played in Pakistan in 2008, losing the Asia Cup final by 100 runs to Sri Lanka in Karachi.
Political concerns have brought cricket between the two nations to a halt; now, only matches sanctioned by the International Cricket Council or the Asian Cricket Council can take place.
Pakistan traveled to India for a white-ball series in December 2012 and January 2013, the last time they played a bilateral series. It wasn’t until early 2006 that India and Pakistan had their previous official bilateral visit.
According to a PCB insider who spoke with Al Jazeera, all nations have supported Pakistan hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy, except India.
A source stated that before the Twenty20 World Cup final, the PCB chairman met with chiefs of cricket boards in Barbados. They discussed Pakistan’s plans to host the ICC Champions Trophy next year during the meeting.
Six of the seven nations have been encouraging and supportive because their teams have visited Pakistan and seen both its products and its production efforts.” Players who have traveled here to play in the Pakistan Super League and for their national teams have also commented on the boards.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials have been visiting the country for the last three months to voice their approval of the preparations for Pakistan’s first ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup.
After being removed from the international cricket schedule after the 2017 edition, the ICC Champions Trophy signifies the tournament’s comeback. At London, England’s The Oval, Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs to claim victory in that tournament.
