BCCI vice-president denies rumors of India skipping ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Rajeev Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), dismissed claims that the Indian cricket team would not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year. Indian media had previously reported that the BCCI planned to ask the ICC to move India’s matches to a neutral venue. 

Shukla clarified to ThePrint over the phone, “We do not know which source gave such information. BCCI has not put out any official information regarding this."

India has not visited Pakistan since 2008, and the last bilateral series between the two countries occurred in 2013. Since then, India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allocated Rs. 12.80 billion to upgrade three stadiums in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for February/March next year. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presided over the 72nd Board of Governors (BoG) meeting earlier this month, where the budget for 2024-25 was approved. The meeting, held at the National Cricket Academy, saw full attendance from all BoG members.

The upgrades will enhance Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi's National Bank Cricket Arena, and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium. PCB Chairman Naqvi assured that the stadiums would meet international standards by the time of the Champions Trophy. The improvement work is set to be completed before the event, which is scheduled to run from February 19th to March 9th.

The ICC Champions Trophy will return after an eight-year break, with its last edition held in 2017. In that tournament, Pakistan emerged victorious, defeating India in the final.