The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working proactively to facilitate Indian fans who may attend the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is set to host next year.
PCB chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced steps to simplify visa processes for Indian fans, with a dedicated ticket quota reserved specifically for them, hoping for a significant turnout from India.
“We will be keeping a special quota of tickets for Indian fans, and we will try to make the visa issuance policy brisk,” Naqvi said during a meeting with a group of Sikh pilgrims from the United States.
Although the tournament's official schedule has yet to be released, key venues like Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been selected. The Champions Trophy is expected to kick off on February 19, with the final match on March 9.
However, India’s participation remains uncertain, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awaits the Indian government’s decision on whether to allow the team to travel to Pakistan. This decision is significant, given that Indian teams have not visited Pakistan since 2008, and bilateral matches have since been limited to ICC events and neutral grounds.
Expressing optimism, Naqvi voiced confidence in India’s participation: “The Indian team should come. I don’t see them cancel or postpone coming here, and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” He also emphasized the PCB’s dedication to welcoming Indian fans for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match, expected to take place in Lahore.
Meanwhile, officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including Chairman Richard Thompson, highlighted the tournament's success as closely linked to India's participation. "Staging the Champions Trophy without powerhouse India is not an option," ECB officials reportedly stated.
In response to potential obstacles, the ICC is preparing contingency plans should the BCCI be unable to secure the necessary government approval for India’s travel to Pakistan.
