Will the Indian cricket team return home after playing every match in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan? There have been a lot of speculations on whether the India national cricket team would travel to their neighbouring country or not to compete in the Champions Trophy, slated to take place early next year. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier expressed confidence that the Men in Blue would make the move across the border to compete in the Champions Trophy 2024. In another development, it is said that the PCB is keen on assisting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) if India choose to return home after every match in the Champions Trophy 2025. Will India Travel to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025? BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla Makes Massive Statement.

As per a report from Cricbuzz, the PCB wrote to the BCCI, keen on providing the necessary assistance if the Indian cricket board chooses to have its team fly back home, either to Delhi or Chandigarh after playing every match and avoid staying in the country. India, as per the report, would play all its matches in Lahore due to it being close to the border. Rohit Sharma and co are to face Bangladesh on February 20, Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. This option to return home after every match is well justified, given the gap between the second and third group stage matches. Talks of the India national cricket team's visit to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 stirred up again after India's external affairs minister travelled to the neighbouring country to attend the SCO Summit. ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final Likely to Be Shifted From Lahore to Dubai If Indian Cricket Team Qualifies For Summit Clash, Says Report.

The report in Cricbuzz states that the discussion on Team India visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 cropped up in interactions between S Jaishankar and Ishaq Dar, his counterpart from Pakistan and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. It is to be noted that the Indian cricket team last toured Pakistan in 2008 and hasn't since after the Mumbai attacks in that same year. The two nations last played a bilateral series in 2012-2013 in India and have not faced each other since then apart from ACC (Asian Cricket Council) and ICC (International Cricket Council) competitions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2024 08:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).