India traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 seems unlikely

Team India traveling to Pakistan and participating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 seems unlikely, a source from the BCCI has hinted to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS),

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi expressed willingness for a bilateral series with the neighboring country if India traveled to Pakistan for the ICC event.

“Forget bilateral series…Team India may not even travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. There might be a change of venue’s hybrid model is also possible,” the source from BCCI indicated.

Despite the Champions Trophy being an ICC event, India seems adamant about not traveling to Pakistan.

“Champions Trophy is an ICC event, so it would be a tough call for India but nothing without the government’s order/green signal. Bilateral series, I don’t see in the near future, that’s next to impossible,” the source added.

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The BCCI needs approval from their government to participate in an event held in Pakistan but seeing the conflicted and strained relationship between the two that seems highly unlikely to occur.

“The Indian board would need permission from the government for travel, currently our relations with Pakistan are not that good either,” the source said.

For the event to have India’s presence, a venue change or a two-host solution seems possible.

The last time Pakistan and India met in a bilateral series was back in 2012-2013 when Pakistan toured India for a two-match T20I and three-match ODI series. India was led by MS Dhoni in both T20Is and ODIs whereas Pakistan was led by Mohammad Hafeez in T20Is and in ODIs was led by Misbah Ul Haq.

The two-match T20I series was a 1-1 draw and the three-match ODI series resulted in a 2-1 win for Pakistan.

This was the last time the teams played outside of ICC events.