Pakistan has called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to compensate in case India doesn't travel to the host country for the Champions Trophy 2025.
As reported by Hindustan Times, according to a highly reliable source within PCB, the ICC has yet to sign the formal hosting agreement with Pakistan despite designating the country as the tournament's host.
The source revealed that PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and COO Salman Naseer met with the ICC executive board in Ahmedabad to discuss the hosting of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February-March, 2025.
"Pakistani officials discussed the possibility of the Indian board (BCCI) once again refusing to send its team to Pakistan and made it clear that in any given situation the ICC must avoid taking unilateral decisions on the tournament," the source stated to Hindustan Times.
The PCB officials reportedly suggested that the ICC appoint an independent security agency to assess the security situation for the participating teams, including India, in the event that India declines to play in Pakistan due to security concerns.
The PCB also emphasized that the ICC should compensate Pakistan if India does not send its team and its matches are relocated to another country, citing the successful tours of several top teams to Pakistan in recent years without any security issues.
The PCB representatives reiterated their stance that Pakistan would not relinquish its hosting rights, expressing their understanding of the high likelihood of India withdrawing from playing in Pakistan due to political and security considerations, given the relationship between the two countries' governments.
During the Asia Cup, which was partially hosted by Pakistan in August-September this year, India refused to play in Pakistan.
The Indian team played all of its matches, including the final against Sri Lanka, in Sri Lanka.
Ashraf and Naseer emphasized at the ICC meeting that Pakistan would not give up its hosting rights.
The BCCI representative maintained that any decision regarding India's participation in Pakistan in 2025 would solely be made by their government and that they were obligated to abide by that decision.
