The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refuted the reports of a proposal by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to facilitate India’s travel back home after each match in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
What Was the Proposal?
According to a Cricbuzz report, the PCB supposedly floated the idea of helping India fly back to either Chandigarh or Delhi after each of their matches during the Champions Trophy, set to be hosted in Pakistan.
This offer seemed like a gesture to ease any concerns India might have about staying in Pakistan throughout the tournament.
India’s matches are reportedly set for Lahore and possibly Rawalpindi. But here’s where things get tricky—due to the long-standing political tensions between the two nations, India’s participation in any event held in Pakistan has always been a question mark.
Read More: PCB’s New Selection Committee: Will It Work This Time?
BCCI Says “No Thanks”
While the PCB’s offer may have sounded like an olive branch to some, the BCCI has firmly denied any such discussions. A report from Dainik Jagran cited a BCCI official who made it clear that no such proposal had been received.
Even if it had been, the official mentioned that the BCCI would reject the idea outright. This isn’t just a matter of logistics, though. The BCCI has always maintained that the decision to play in Pakistan isn’t entirely up to them. Ultimately, it’s in the hands of the Government of India.
The India-Pakistan Cricket Conundrum
India and Pakistan only meet on the cricket field during major ICC tournaments. The last time India toured Pakistan for a bilateral series was way back in 2008 during the Asia Cup.
Since then, the only time the two teams have faced off has been during international tournaments, like the ICC World Cups or the Asia Cup.
Read More: Will India Visit Pakistan For Champions Trophy?
There was a glimmer of hope recently when India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, visited Pakistan for the 2024 SCO Summit. Naturally, people speculated if this meant we might see a thaw in cricketing relations. However, there was no mention of cricket during this visit, leaving fans with more questions than answers.
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