India Declines to Travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy, Requests Matches in Dubai

India has announced that it will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to security concerns, requesting instead that its matches be held in Dubai. The Indian cricket board recently communicated this decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), maintaining a consistent stance on the matter. “This has been our stance, and there is no reason to change that. We have asked to shift our games to Dubai,” a source stated.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi as the host cities. India’s decision aligns with prior actions taken in consultation with its government. In a similar instance, India managed to move its Asia Cup matches to Sri Lanka last year despite hosting responsibilities lying with Pakistan. Although there were recent diplomatic discussions raising hopes for cricket’s return to normalcy in the region, the decision underscores ongoing challenges.

Following a recent meeting between Indian and Pakistani leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, there had been speculation about renewed cricket ties. Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, along with other officials, had reportedly explored potential arrangements to facilitate India’s visit. However, despite the PCB’s offer for India’s team to return home between matches, a compromise could not be reached. Pakistan has hosted several international teams, including England and Bangladesh, in recent years, but India last toured Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup.

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