India Won't Travel To Pakistan For ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Government

India last toured Pakistan in 2006 (X)

India's stance on participating in the Champions Trophy 2025 remains firm. Anurag Thakur, the current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, emphasised that cricket and terrorism cannot co-exist. 

Therefore, India will not play in Pakistan, says the Indian minister; putting pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan, but India has maintained its stance of not playing in Pakistan. Previously, India had refused to participate in the Asia Cup, which was supposed to be held in Pakistan last year. 

Eventually, the tournament took place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, marking the first time an Asia Cup was hosted by two countries. 

All of India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka which includes India Pakistan match as well.  India reached the finals of Asia cup and defeated Sri Lanka in the final match held in Sri Lanka to clinch the title.

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PCB in dilemma for CT 2025

The PCB has been making efforts to persuade the BCCI to send the Indian team to Pakistan after the ICC allotted the CT 2025 to Pakistan. However, India has not given a green signal to the PCB.

Without India's presence, ICC may need to move the Champions Trophy from Pakistan or come up with a hybrid solution similar to the Asia Cup situation. 

Of late, the bilateral ties between both the countries has been broken, not playing each other in any bilaterals since 2012-13.

This policy continued under subsequent governments. However, Pakistan has visited India for multiple ICC tournaments, including the last ODI World Cup.

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