ICC informs Pakistan of no India presence at Champions Trophy; PCB to boycott playing Men in Blue in response

The ICC officially wrote to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday (Nov 11), informing them of BCCI’s stance of not sending the Indian Team across the border for the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled for early next year. The Indian Cricket Board informed the ICC of sticking to their final call to not send their team to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, with the PCB referring the matter to the Pakistan government.

In response to the Indian government and BCCI’s stern stance, the PCB mulls boycotting playing India at all levels worldwide.

Due to tense political relations, India and Pakistan haven’t playedany bilateral gamessince 2012/13, when Pakistan last visited India for a white-ball series. The two Asian giants, however, have faced off in ICC events and the Asia Cup tournaments since.

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Even last year, when Pakistan was supposed to host the six-team Asia Cup, the BCCI decided against sending the team for the coveted tournament; as a result, Sri Lanka got added as the last-minute co-host, staging all India games, including the final, which the Men in Blue won by 10 wickets.

While the BCCI insisted on bringing in a neutral venue to host all India matches, reports from Pakistan suggest that the PCB is unwilling to agree to the hybrid model; in their response, the PCB is preparing to boycott playing India across tournaments irrespective of FTP commitments.

"I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB," board chairman Naqvi said on Friday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, reputed Pakistan cricket journalist and expert Nauman Niaz took to social media (X) to inform everyone of the latest developments.

"ICC conveys in writing to PCB that India isn't travelling to Pakistan to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Reliable sourcesreveal PCB has referred it to the Government of Pakistan. PCB is unrelenting & unsparing not to agree on the hybrid model, also in the process to decide not to play against India at any level across any format anywhere in the world," Nauman wrote on X.

Although neither board has made official statements on this, the PCB is expected to release its response to BCCI’s decision and the Champions Trophy 2025 future, with the tournament's schedule announcement date nearing.

Should the PCB and ICC decide against accepting BCCI’s call, they could scrap India from the tournament and add the next-ranked side in their place, the chances of which are bleak.

(With inputs from agencies)