Champions Trophy 2025: Mohsin Naqvi confident India will travel to Pakistan

Pakistan cricket board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is confident that India will travel to the country to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy. India's participation in the tournament is in doubt because of the political tensions between both countries.

In Short

• Naqvi urged the Indian team to come to Pakistan
• Naqvi doesn't see the Indian team cancelling or postponing the trip to Pakistan
• ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2025

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy being successfully hosted in Pakistan, with all teams, including arch-rival India, set to participate. India has not toured Pakistan since July 2008 due to strained political relations between the two nations. Despite this, Naqvi affirmed that Pakistan is fully prepared to welcome all participating teams, including India, and that preparations are progressing smoothly.

As quoted by PTI, the PCB chairman urged the Indian team to come to Pakistan. Naqvi said that he doesn't see the Indian cancelling or postponing their visit for the tournament and feels Pakistan is ready to host all the nations.

"The Indian team should come. I don't see them cancel or postpone coming here and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan," Naqvi said.

Naqvi added that the stadiums would be in top condition by the time the tournament kicks off in February, ensuring that Pakistan is ready to host the prestigious event.

"The stadiums will also be ready to host the matches on schedule and any remaining work would be completed after the tournament," he added.

Will India travel to Pakistan?

Rajeev Shukla recently addressed India's potential participation in the upcoming tournament in Pakistan, stating that Jay Shah, as the independent chairman of the relevant cricketing body, will make a decision when the time comes. Shukla emphasized that Shah will assess the situation and take an independent stance on whether India will travel to Pakistan, depending on the circumstances.

“As far as Champions Trophy is concerned, Pakistan is hosting that tournament. Last year as well, the Asia Cup was in Pakistan and we had adoptd a hybrid model where India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka. Until now, there have been no discussions in BCCI for that tournament and nor have we come up with a decision. We have a good news that our BCCI Secretary Jay shah will become the ICC Chairman. So, he will be there in ICC as independent Chairman and will take a decision on the matter,” Rajiv Shukla told India Today.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2025, with the final slated for March 9. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been designated as the host cities.