Pakistan is hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Champions Trophy is to be held in February and March next year, in which a total of eight teams will participate. There is uncertainty over Team India going to Pakistan. BCCI has made it clear that the government will take a decision on Indian players playing in Pakistan. At the same time, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has requested the Indian team to come to Pakistan. He reminded that the Pakistan team played in India in the ODI World Cup last year. Shoaib said that now India should come to us.
Former all-rounder Shoaib told Cricket Pakistan, “Whatever differences there are between the two countries, it is a separate issue. It should be resolved separately. Politics should not come into sports. Last year the Pakistan team went to India and now this is a good opportunity for the Indian team as well. I think there are many players in the Indian team who have never played in Pakistan. In such a situation, this will be a very good opportunity for them. We are very good people and we are very hospitable people. I am sure the Indian team should definitely come.”
As per the recent reports, the schedule and format of the Champions Trophy were not discussed at the ICC’s annual meeting. The report said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has left it to the ICC to convince India to come to Pakistan for the tournament. A PCB source said, “The PCB has now done what was expected of it as the host of the Champions Trophy. It has submitted the draft schedule and format of the competition and has also submitted the budget for the competition.”
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The source said, “Now it is up to the ICC how quickly they circulate, discuss and finalise the schedule of the Champions Trophy. The PCB has suggested hosting all India’s matches in Lahore in the draft schedule including the semi-finals (if India qualifies) and the final.” The source revealed that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi did not have any formal meeting with BCCI secretary Jay Shah or any other BCCI official on the sidelines of the ICC meetings but the conversation between Naqvi and Shah was cordial during the meetings.
