India will not travel to Champions Trophy - PCB

India has told the International Cricket Council that it will not attend the Champions Trophy, according to hosts Pakistan.

Due to ongoing political difficulties, the two countries have not played each other outside of men's major tournaments since 2013, while India hasn't played in Pakistan in 16 years.

For the first time since 1996, Pakistan will host the eight-team 50-over Champions Trophy in February and March of next year.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India informed the ICC that the India squad will not cross the border.

The PCB has received an email from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025," said a PCB spokesperson. "The PCB has forwarded that email to the government of Pakistan for their advice and guidance."

The tournament is due to begin in one hundred days, on 19 February. A schedule is still to be confirmed by the ICC.

The ICC has not responded directly to the PCB statement but is in discussions with Pakistan and the other seven competing nations over a schedule. The BCCI has been asked for a response.

One conceivable option would be to stage the event in a 'hybrid' format, with India playing its matches outside of Pakistan, possibly in the UAE. When Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year, it used a similar concept.


However, if India advances to the semi-finals, it is possible that the location of the knockout matches may be undetermined.

On Friday, chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the PCB will not accept a hybrid solution.

Pakistan traveled to India to compete in the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 50-over World Cups.

Last month, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould dismissed any suggestion that the tournament might continue place without India.

If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them," he said.

"There are a variety of different options available if those circumstances come along. This is a big moment for Pakistan, and hopefully we can have the fullest possible competition in Pakistan. If that's not possible, we know there are options available."

Pakistan did not host any international cricket between 2009 and 2015 after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team 15 years ago.

Former England assistant coach Paul Farbrace was part of the Sri Lanka staff and told BBC Sport Pakistan "deserves to host international cricket".

"I completely understand that historical events have muddied the water between the two countries, but the BCCI has to realise this is a bigger picture than whether or not they want to go to Pakistan," he added.

"In terms of sport, this is a fantastic opportunity for India to show it wants cricket to flourish, rather than saying 'no, we don't fancy going to Pakistan'. Every one of the big nations need to travel to all of the other countries in order to grow the game and in that respect, India has too much clout."