Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo)
NEW DELHI: Will India travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025? This big question is making rounds on social media.
Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently expressed confidence that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan, with all teams, including arch-rivals India, participating.
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with the final scheduled for March 9. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been selected as the venues.
India have not sent a cricket team to Pakistan since July 2008 due to the tense political relations between the two countries.
However, Pakistan's newly appointed limited-overs captain
Mohammad Rizwan
believes they want India to come to Pakistan for the mega tournament.
"Pakistan fans love Indian players; we received love in India as well (during the 2023 World Cup). We also want India to come to Pakistan and play here," Rizwan said.
"I'm unsure if they're coming for the Champions Trophy, but one thing is certain - if they come, they'll receive an awesome welcome here," he added.
WATCH:
In a recent interview with TimesofIndia.com, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh emphasized the safety concerns for Indian players in Pakistan. According to the veteran spinner, players' safety is paramount.
"There are significant safety concerns in Pakistan. I’ve always said, and I still believe, that if there’s no guarantee of safety, our players shouldn’t travel to Pakistan," Harbhajan told TimesofIndia.com.