The Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as India is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the tournament scheduled in February-March next year. Reports suggest that if India decides against participation, Sri Lanka, who missed qualifying due to their 9th place finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup, will step in. This would mark Sri Lanka’s return after failing to qualify for the first time ever, despite winning the event in 2002.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the tournament to Sri Lanka or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) if India’s stance holds. The final decision on India’s participation rests with the Indian government, as confirmed by BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, emphasizing that approval is necessary for the team to travel to Pakistan.
This scenario echoes the 2023 Asia Cup, where India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka due to similar concerns, highlighting cricket’s intersection with geopolitical issues in the region.
