Pakistan considering withdrawal from Champions Trophy and boycotting matches against India in ICC events: Report

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has firmly stated that Pakistan will not agree to the hybrid model proposed for the Champions Trophy. Under this model, India would have had to play their matches at a neutral venue, which Pakistan is not willing to entertain.

However, a report in Dawn.com states that the government of Pakistan is thinking of asking PCB to withdraw from the Champions Trophy.

"In such a case, one of the options the government is mul­ling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don’t participate in the Champions Trophy," Dawn quoted a source as saying.

The report also added that the federal government of Pakistan is looking at the issue very "seriously."

The same report in Dawn also states that Pakistan government might also ask the PCB to refuse playing against India in any ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments until issues are resolved between the two countries at the government level.

Last year, Asia Cup was slated to be played in Pakistan. However, it eventually went ahead in a hybrid model, with India's matches going ahead in Sri Lanka.

India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series against each other in 2012. Since then, the two nations have competed against each other in the ICC tournaments and Asia Cup.

Pakistan have visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016 and ODI World Cup in 2023.

Coming back to Champions Trophy 2025, the eight-team tournament is currently scheduled to be played from February 19-March 9 next year. The host cities are Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi. However, the fate of the tournament currently hangs in the balance.

Earlier, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif had also claimed that Pakistan would withdraw from the Champions Trophy if India don't cross the border for the tournament.

Pakistan had co-hosted the 1996 ODI World Cup, and this remains the last time an ICC event was played in the country. Pakistan had won the last edition of Champions Trophy after defeating India in the final of the 2017 tournament.