India has confirmed it will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy cricket tournament, citing security concerns, Indian media reports claim.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) communicated its decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and expressed a preference to play all of its matches in Dubai.
India’s stance remains unchanged despite recent diplomatic talks between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad. The two nations’ first direct high-level conversation since 2015 had sparked hopes of restoring cricketing ties, but the BCCI insists on playing its matches outside Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, will feature the top eight cricketing nations. Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi are set to host the tournament, but India has remained firm on its position, following consultations with the Indian government. Last year, India shifted its Asia Cup matches to Sri Lanka, despite pressure from Pakistan.
With India opting to play in Dubai, the prospects of India-Pakistan cricket relations taking a positive turn remain uncertain, despite recent diplomatic discussions.
