BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla reiterated on Monday that a final decision regarding India’s participation in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Pakistan, will hinge on government approval. Scheduled from February 19 to March 9, the prestigious ODI tournament is drawing speculation over India’s travel due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations.
“No decision has been taken yet. Our policy is clear: for any international tours, we always seek the government’s permission. Whether our team travels to a country or not is entirely the government’s call,” Shukla told reporters during the second Test between India and Bangladesh.
India and Pakistan only face each other in ICC events, as bilateral cricketing ties were severed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The last time India played in Pakistan was before the attacks, and in return, Pakistan’s national team only made the trip to India for last year’s ODI World Cup after a seven-year gap.
Speculation is mounting that India might skip the Champions Trophy, prompting the BCCI to explore alternatives such as shifting the event to neutral venues like Sri Lanka or Dubai, much like the recently concluded Asia Cup, where India played all its matches in Sri Lanka. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed strong opposition to relocating the event.
In response, Pakistan all-rounder Hasan Ali suggested that the tournament could proceed without India if necessary. The ICC has taken a neutral stance, affirming it will not compel any team to violate its government’s directives.
As the Champions Trophy approaches, all eyes are on the Indian government’s decision, which could significantly impact the tournament’s future and the India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry.
