ICC Champions Trophy: India decide not to travel to Pakistan, expresses desire to play in Dubai

ICC Champions Trophy: India decide not to travel to Pakistan, expresses desire to play in Dubai (PTI/File Photo)

Team India won't be traveling to Pakistan for next year's ICC Champions Trophy, with BCCI citing security concerns behind their decision. The Indian cricket board has instead expressed their desire to play all their matches in Dubai. "This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai," a source close to the development was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

The top eight teams across the world will take part in the elite competition scheduled to be held between February 19 to March 5. The report also mentioned that Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will serve as the host cities.

Exclusive | Kapil Dev on Gautam Gambhir's early setbacks as India coach: 'Kya aap ek saal mein expert ban jayenge?'

The report also claimed that BCCI took the decision of not sending the team to Pakistan “in consultation with the government”. The Asia Cup 2023, which was initially proposed to be hosted by Pakistan, was played in a hybrid model with matches taking place both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India had then played all their matches in the island nation.

It was expected that cricketing ties between the fierce rivals would be renewed after last month's meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting at Islamabad. It was also reported that Pakistan’s interior minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who is now the PCB Chairman, was also in loop.

The report in Indian Express stated that PCB had proposed the idea of flying India back to their country post every match. However, a final call is yet to be taken by ICC as the tug of war between the cricketing boards of the two countries continues.

International cricket went shut in Pakistan following the terrorist attack against Sri Lanka players in 2009. However, of late Pakistan have hosted international teams like England and Bangladesh. The last time India had traveled to Pakistan was in 2006, when Rahul Dravid-led unit had thrashed Pakistan 4-1 in five-match ODI series.