DUBAI – The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday added supplementary expenses in the Champions Trophy budget to address scenarios where the Indian cricket team might play outside Pakistan.
This preparation comes as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delegated the task of convincing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send its team to Pakistan for the tournament.
Scheduled for early next year, the Champions Trophy 2025 had its budget approved at recent ICC meetings in Colombo, although discussions on the schedule and format were not held, according to a PCB source.
Indian media reported that the PCB has already provided all necessary details in its expression of interest document to the ICC.
The report also mentioned that the PCB delegated the ICC to finalize and announce the tournament schedule, and to secure the BCCI’s confirmation regarding the Indian team’s participation in Pakistan.
According to the draft schedule, all of India’s games, including a potential semi-final and final, are set to take place in Lahore, with the India vs. Pakistan match scheduled for March 1.
BCCI earlier had stated that any decision on playing cricket in Pakistan depended on the Indian government’s approval.
For the 2023 ODI Asia Cup, India played its matches in Sri Lanka under a ‘Hybrid Model.’
