Champions Trophy 2025: ICC gives India one week to confirm Pakistan tour plans

Cricket fans worldwide are buzzing with the question: will India play in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025? The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given India a deadline, hoping for a positive response within a week regarding its participation in the high-stakes tournament.

While seven other countries have already confirmed their willingness to play in Pakistan, India’s participation remains uncertain. The ICC typically reveals the tournament schedule 3–4 months before the event, but in this case, it may opt for a unique unveiling event, expected between November 10 and 12 in Pakistan, where India’s matches are proposed to be held in Lahore.

Discussions have been underway in Dubai between ICC officials and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), represented by COO Salman Naseer and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, to finalize India’s decision and coordinate tournament logistics. The PCB has also requested a clear, written “yes or no” from India on whether its team will compete in Pakistan.

According to the PCB’s proposed schedule, the Champions Trophy will commence on February 19, 2025, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi. India is set to play its first match against Bangladesh in Lahore on February 20, while Afghanistan will face South Africa in Karachi the following day. The marquee Pakistan-India clash, a highlight of any ICC tournament, is slated for March 1, 2025, in Lahore, and the grand final is set for March 9, 2025, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.