IND-PAK
Pakistan firm on hosting Champions Trophy amid standoff with India: Report
Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan has remained firm on its right to host Champions Trophy 2025 amid standoff with its geopolitical rival India, who have refused to tour Islamabad for the international tournament, media reports said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] has reportedly asked the country's federal government to not give in to India's demand to shift the tournament to Dubai.
A PCB official, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Indian Express, "We have been told by our government not to move any game out of Pakistan, and that will be our stand when the time comes.
"Right now, the ICC has just informed us about India’s decision. We have the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy so there is no way we can move the games outside Pakistan."
Days ago, the Indian cricket board [BCCI] informed the International Cricket Council [ICC] that Team India won't travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025.
The PCB has reportedly sought reasons from the ICC for India's refusal to travel to Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy.
India have never played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2012 amid the bilateral tension stemming from cross-border terrorism sponsored by Islamabad-based terror groups.
However, they played against each other in the ICC tournaments.
Last year, India refused to tour Pakistan to play in the Asia Cup and hence, a hybrid model was adopted.
Under the hybrid model, all India's matches were hosted by Sri Lanka.
However, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has ruled out the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy.
After India refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB is likely to pull out of the tournament entirely.
"In such a case, one of the options the [Pakistan] government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan doesn't participate in the Champions Trophy," a report by The Times of India said.
The Champions Trophy, which will be played for the first time since 2017, is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
Pakistan had won the last Champions Trophy in 2017 thrashing India in the final.
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