India will get warm welcome in Pakistan if they come for Champions Trophy: Rizwan
Pakistan’s new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan says that the Indian cricket team will get a warm welcome if they visit his country for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Speaking at a press conference, Rizwan highlighted the warm reception awaiting the Indian team if they decide to participate in the tournament in Pakistan. “Fans here love Indian cricketers, and they would be thrilled to see the Indian team play in Pakistan. If they come, we will give them a warm welcome,” Rizwan affirmed. Notably, India last visited Pakistan for the 2008 Asia Cup, where they reached the final but lost to Sri Lanka by 100 runs.
Since then, bilateral cricketing ties have been largely limited to neutral venues due to political tensions and security concerns. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s most recent visit to India was for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Before that, the Men in Green visited India in 2012 for a bilateral ODI series.
In their most recent face-off, India defeated Pakistan by a narrow six-run margin at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA, where the intensity and excitement underscored the enduring allure of the rivalry. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is exploring three possible models for hosting the Champions Trophy due to lingering uncertainties regarding India’s participation in Pakistan:
Full Tournament in Pakistan: Under this model, all games, including the semi-finals and final, would be held in Pakistan as initially planned.
Hybrid Model (Pakistan and Secondary Venue): This plan would see India’s matches, along with the semi-finals and finals, hosted at a neutral venue, likely Dubai. This approach is reminiscent of the recent 2023 Asia Cup, which employed a hybrid format to address security concerns for India in Pakistan.
Complete Relocation Outside of Pakistan: If a full relocation becomes necessary, Dubai, South Africa, and Sri Lanka are considered top contenders to host the tournament, with the PCB retaining official hosting rights regardless of location.
The PCB has already drafted a tentative schedule for the Champions Trophy, set to start on February 19 and culminate with the final on March 9. The proposed host cities include Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, each historically significant and well-equipped to host international cricket events. The ICC is expected to announce a decision by November, with additional insights likely when Jay Shah assumes the ICC Chairmanship on December 1.