India (Commonwealth) _ India will not play in the 2024 Champions Trophy cricket event in Pakistan, according to confirmation from the Indian Cricket Board. They have informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that they would prefer to move the games to Dubai due to security concerns.
This has been our position, and there is no need to modify it, according to a source cited by Indian media. We’ve written to request that they move our games to Dubai.
The Indian board claims that there are no problems in Dubai and that it doesn’t pose any logistical hurdles. Everything can be managed without any issues, including hotels and logistics. When it comes to Dubai, the ICC has everything under control.
The best eight teams in the globe will compete in the competition, which is set to take place from February 19 to March 9. The host cities are Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
According to reports, “in consultation with the government,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has upheld its stance on Pakistan. Despite pressure from the hosts, Pakistan, India was able to move their Asia Cup matches to Sri Lanka last year.
It is true that the BCCI has expressed their worries about Champions Trophy matches played in Pakistan. Dubai is the frontrunner for the Indian team’s matches, and they prefer to play at a neutral location,” a source told the Times of India.
With the exception of ICC events, India and Pakistan have not visited one another’s nations since 2008. This resulted from tensions between the nations after the Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed the lives of more than 150 individuals.
After a seven-year hiatus, Pakistan returned to India for the ODI World Cup in 2023. Additionally, Pakistan visited India for a T20I and an ODI series in 2013, marking the conclusion of the two countries’ last bilateral series.
Rashid Latif, a seasoned gloveman and former captain of Pakistan, has criticized the BCCI for using “security concerns” as an excuse not to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The most recent sources indicate that the BCCI has informed the ICC of their intention to prevent the Men in Blue from entering Pakistan for the eight-team competition scheduled for February or March of the following year.
Incensed with the BCCI’s choice, Latif stated that the hosts should think about abstaining from the competition entirely if the BCCI chooses not to send a team to Pakistan. His audacious declaration followed the BCCI’s quest for a neutral location for all India games, with Dubai emerging as the leading candidate.
Latif went on to clarify that the BCCI cannot refuse to travel to Pakistan, as it is an ICC tournament that India, along with all other participating countries, signed up for and must adhere to.
This event is hosted by ICC. The 2024–2031 cycle has been signed. Every broadcaster and sponsor has signed a contract with the teams competing in the World Cup or the Champions Trophy.
A team must have a compelling explanation for their decision to decline participation. Similar to 1996, Australia and the West Indies advanced to the final despite not visiting Sri Lanka. If you give a security justification, it is not a good one. He stated that South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia are among the teams visiting Pakistan.
All levels of India vs. Pakistan matchups are the most anticipated but lucrative contests, and the ICC gets the most out of this match given its financial significance. According to Latif, the ICC will be useless and incur significant losses if the Pakistani Board follows the BCCI’s example and chooses not to attend an ICC function, as their counterpart is doing for this one.
The only reason the ICC exists is because of India and Pakistan. Rashid stated that the ICC will be useless since no one will attend the game if the Pakistani government also declares that we won’t play.
We can argue that India is not interested in playing bilateral matches, but because you have already signed the ICC agreement, you cannot refuse its events. India must have a firm foundation. Pakistan will take a significant step by not entering the competition if India does not show up, he continued.
