The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants India to play all their matches in Lahore for the Champions Trophy next year. This Champions Trophy is a big cricket tournament with many teams. Pakistan is supposed to hold it in 2025. The report says PCB is thinking about hosting it in mid-February. Lahore is picked because it’s close to the Wagah Border, where India and Pakistan meet. The report also says Lahore will have the final match.
Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore are where the matches will happen. However, PCB chose Lahore for India because it’s easier for planning and security. Moreover, it’s better for Indian fans since they won’t have to travel much.
PCB, ‘India-Pakistan Only Meet in ICC Events’
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said earlier this week that the board had sent a draft schedule of the tournament. It will most likely be staged at the ICC in mid-February next year. Discussions involving the eight participating members will take place. The major sticking point is whether the India team travels or not.
“Since the return of international cricket to Pakistan in 2015, however, every single team involved in the Champions Trophy has toured and played in Pakistan, except India.”
No Indian team has played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Relations between the two governments have deteriorated steadily and often sharply since, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks the same year.
Last year, when Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup, they were forced to deploy a hybrid model in which India played all their games – including those against Pakistan – in Sri Lanka. The final of the tournament, won by India, was held in Colombo.
The final decision on whether India visits Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will be in the hands of the Indian government, rather than the BCCI.
On Tuesday evening in Karachi, Naqvi expressed the hope that “all eight teams” will come to Pakistan for the event, though he was not drawn into specifics about India’s position.
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