PCB spokesperson revealed that the board had received an official email from the ICC
10 November, 2024
PHOTO: FILE
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not be sending its team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, citing government advice as the primary reason.
This decision, communicated to the PCB through the International Cricket Council (ICC), has reignited debates over the future of the tournament and the possibility of a hybrid model for hosting matches.
In an exclusive interview with Sports Tak, a PCB spokesperson revealed that the board had received an official email from the ICC, which contained a notification from the BCCI about their refusal to travel to Pakistan. The PCB has subsequently forwarded the ICC's correspondence to the Government of Pakistan for further advice and guidance on how to proceed.
"The PCB has received an email from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025," said the spokesperson. "The PCB has forwarded that email to the Government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance."
Although the ICC received BCCI's communication earlier this week, the details of the correspondence, whether verbal or written, remain unclear. In previous statements, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had emphasized that no formal communication had been received from the BCCI, and insisted that any concerns from the Indian board should be presented in writing.
"We have a clear stance that they must give it to us in writing if they [the Indian cricket board] have any issues. Till today, we have not spoken about any hybrid model, but we’re ready to speak on this," Naqvi had told reporters. "If Indian media is reporting this, then there must be some letter the ICC will give us, or the Indian Board might have written this somewhere. Till now, no such letter has reached me or the PCB."
The PCB chief also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that cricket remains free from political influence and expressed confidence that the 2025 Champions Trophy would be a success, despite the challenges.
"We want cricket to be devoid of politics. No sport in the world should have these kinds of politics. We will continue the preparations for the Champions Trophy that you’re currently seeing, and God willing, it will be a successful event," Naqvi added.
The refusal of India to travel to Pakistan is not a new issue. Last year, India had declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which was ultimately held in a hybrid format, with matches split between Pakistan and the UAE.
While there were discussions about adopting a similar hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, Naqvi firmly rejected the idea, stressing that future cricket tours between India and Pakistan should be governed by government approval and that no guarantees could be made without such clearance.
"There will be no hybrid model for the Champions Trophy," Naqvi has stated in recent interviews. "The PCB made concessions by touring India for the 2023 ODI World Cup despite India's refusal to come to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. We expect the same level of respect from the global cricket community moving forward."
The BCCI's stance on the Champions Trophy has now put the ICC in a difficult position. While it remains unclear whether the ICC will push for a compromise or uphold the hybrid model as a solution, the situation is further complicated by the strained political relations between India and Pakistan, which have often influenced sporting decisions.
The idea of relocating India's matches to a neutral venue, like the UAE, is being discussed, but it remains to be seen if this would be accepted by all parties involved.
