2025 Champions Trophy might be shifted to UAE or played in hybrid method 

Due to hostile relations between India and Pakistan, there is a good chance India won't travel to Pakistan to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

2025 Champions Trophy might be shifted to UAE or played in hybrid method 

The Champions Trophy (Image via ESPN)

When the 2023-2027 Future Tours Program was announced by the International Cricket Council, one of the big inclusions was the return of the Champions Trophy, which would be held in 2025. Along with that, Pakistan were selected as hosts, with the last tournament they held being in 1996. 

Unfortunately, it looks like Pakistan’s chances to host an ICC competition after 29 years could be disrupted. Many reports have come out on 27th November, stating that the competition could be moved entirely out of the country. If not that, it will be scheduled using a Hybrid Model, where the matches will be distributed across Pakistan and another county.

The 2023 Asia Cup was supposed to be held entirely in Pakistan, but due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, it was not possible. Instead the tournament was held in the countries of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the 13 matches divided between the two nations. 4 matches were held in Pakistan, while the remaining 9 in Sri Lanka. 

Related: Could the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan become a T20 tournament? 

Pakistan adamant on the Indian team traveling to Pakistan 

With Pakistan being the designated hosts of the 2025 CT, the PCB already went over the probabilities of India not traveling to Pakistan. But it now looks like the PCB is trying its best to get the Men in Blue to play in their country. 

Indian Team
Indian Team has had an incredible run in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup (Image via ESPN)

Due to the safety concerns for the Indian team, the BCCI and the Indian government have refused to send the Indian team to play in Pakistan for the past 16 years. The PCB have sent a letter to IC regarding this. They have requested the ICC to provide security to the Indian team and if that doesn’t work, the PCB will happily work with the ICC regarding security. 

The letter also states the PCB wants financial compensation if India does not play any matches in the country. Pakistan have hosted top teams in their nation in the past few years, such as Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. They also host the Pakistan Super League, their own franchise T20 league that is played every year. 

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