Prominent sportswriter Vikrant Gupta of India has speculated that it is extremely improbable that the Indian cricket team will visit Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Gupta’s claim, which was made during a widely shared video debate, suggests that the competition would use a hybrid approach, with a significant number of matches potentially taking place in neutral locations.
Gupta states that it is “99.9%” unlikely that the Indian team will play in Pakistan because of continuing security issues and diplomatic sensitivities.
He emphasized that the International Cricket Council (ICC) must find a practical solution quickly, something like what was done for the Asia Cup.
“It seems improbable that India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, given the complexities and time constraints,” Gupta said. “The circumstances are very different from the Asia Cup, where numerous complaints regarding venue changes were made, so the ICC will have to look into alternate arrangements.”
Gupta added that the Champions Trophy’s status may be clarified by the ICC’s forthcoming meeting in Sri Lanka the following week. He estimated that any suggestion for visiting Pakistan would probably be rejected by the Indian board, making the adoption of a hybrid paradigm necessary.
There are rumors that Dubai and Sri Lanka are being explored as possible locations.
The possibility of a hybrid format, in which India would hold its games in a neutral venue, is thought to be essential to preserving the Champions Trophy. This neutral location would also host the final if the model is accepted. Gupta emphasized that although it is not a given that India will compete in the final, logistical considerations need to be made well in advance.
However, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has refuted these allegations, and Vice President Rajeev Shukla has said that there is no truth to the reports of a neutral location. Shukla stressed that no formal comment on the tournament’s arrangements has yet been released by the BCCI.
