PCB Chairman to meet Indian FM at SCO Summit: A potential ice-breaker for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is awaiting government approval to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, there may be a positive development in this regard. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar during the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 15-16, which could serve as an ice-breaker for relations between the two cricket boards.
According to reports in the Pakistani media, Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, will extend an invitation to Jaishankar to attend the Champions Trophy next year. He is expected to brief the Indian FM on security measures and protocols planned for the tournament, as well as Pakistan’s overall preparations and an upcoming ICC delegation visit.
BCCI’s Stance on Visiting Pakistan
Historically, the Indian government has not permitted the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for any event, including ICC tournaments. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla emphasized that the final decision would rest with the Indian government and the incoming ICC chief, Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI Secretary. In the past, a hybrid model was adopted for the Asia Cup, where India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka instead of Pakistan.
“As far as the Champions Trophy is concerned, Pakistan is hosting that tournament. Last year, the Asia Cup was in Pakistan, and we adopted a hybrid model where India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka. Until now, there have been no discussions in BCCI for that tournament, and we have not come up with a decision. We have good news that our BCCI Secretary Jay Shah will become the ICC Chairman. So, he will be there in ICC as independent Chairman and will take a decision on the matter,” said Rajiv Shukla.
Tentative ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule
The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand
- Group B: England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan
The preliminary schedule for the tournament, starting from February 19, 2025, is as follows:
- February 19: New Zealand vs Pakistan – Karachi
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India – Lahore
- February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa – Karachi
- February 22: Australia vs England – Lahore
- February 23: New Zealand vs India – Lahore
- February 24: Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Rawalpindi
- February 25: Afghanistan vs England – Lahore
- February 26: Australia vs South Africa – Rawalpindi
- February 27: Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Lahore
- February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia – Rawalpindi
- March 1: Pakistan vs India – Lahore
- March 2: South Africa vs England – Rawalpindi
- March 5 (Semi-final 1): TBD vs TBD – Karachi
- March 6 (Semi-final 2): TBD vs TBD – Rawalpindi
- March 9 (Final): TBD vs TBD – Lahore
The potential ice-breaker meeting during the SCO summit might pave the way for BCCI’s decision-making regarding the Indian cricket team’s participation in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.