Great decision by PCB for Indian fans. (Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The next ICC tournament is the Champions Trophy and it will be organized in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board is vigorously preparing for this tournament to be played in early 2025. But the chances of the Indian cricket team going to Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy are slim. Despite the poor relations between India and Pakistan and the security threat in Pakistan, PCB is hopeful that the Indian team will come to their country for this tournament. Amidst all this, PCB has taken a big decision for the Indian fans.
PCB’s big decision for Indian fans
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Union Minister Mohsin Naqvi has assured that expedited visas will be issued to Indian fans who wish to come to their country to watch next year’s ICC Champions Trophy matches. Naqvi said that PCB hopes that a large number of Indian cricket lovers will visit Pakistan to watch the Champions Trophy matches. He wants Indian fans to come to Pakistan and watch the match between these two countries in Lahore. A newspaper quoted Naqvi as saying: “We will maintain a special quota of tickets for Indian fans and take appropriate measures to issue visas as soon as possible.”
The venue of the Champions Trophy 2025 may change
Relations between India and Pakistan have not been good for quite some time, which is why the Indian team does not tour this country. Matches are played between India and Pakistan only during ICC tournaments and Asia Cup. In such a situation, it is believed that this tournament can be played in a hybrid model. If this happens, Team India will play all its group matches outside Pakistan and even if it reaches the semi-finals, changes will be made to the venue. For now, both semi-finals will be played only in Pakistan.
On the other hand, the final match of this tournament will be played in Lahore. But if the Indian team reaches the final, then the final match can also be played outside Pakistan, there is a possibility that this match will be held in Dubai. However, ICC is yet to announce the schedule of this tournament. At the same time, according to the preliminary schedule, the Indian team has to play all its matches in Lahore. Team India will play its first match against Bangladesh on February 20. Later, they will play the second match against New Zealand on February 23. At the same time, the third and final match of the group stage will be played against Pakistan on March 1.
