PCB Offers Travel Arrangement for India’s Champions Trophy Matches in Pakistan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed an alternative arrangement to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), suggesting that India could set up a base in either New Delhi or Chandigarh during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. This proposal addresses India’s potential security concerns about staying in Pakistan. The PCB has verbally offered that the Indian team could travel to Lahore for their matches using chartered flights, allowing them to return to India between games.

While this suggestion has not been formally put in writing, discussions between PCB and BCCI officials have taken place to explore ways to facilitate India’s participation in the tournament. A PCB insider said, “Yes, these discussions have been held informally, and the aim is to ensure that India plays its matches in Pakistan.”

The 2025 Champions Trophy is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, with matches planned in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. To ease logistics, the PCB has scheduled India’s matches in Lahore due to its proximity to the Indian border. India’s group-stage matches are on February 20 (against Bangladesh), February 23 (against Pakistan), and March 2 (against New Zealand). However, the PCB is firm on hosting the final in Lahore, regardless of whether India decides to play in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering a hybrid model for the tournament, as India’s participation in Pakistan remains uncertain. Given India’s reluctance to tour Pakistan since 2008, this hybrid model could see some matches moved to neutral venues like Dubai or Sri Lanka.

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