However, the Indian team has declined to participate in the event, which significantly affects Pakistan's ability to host the tournament successfully.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally communicated with both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), requesting the relocation of India's matches from Pakistan to the UAE.
In response, Mohsin Naqvi, the Chief of the PCB, stressed that Pakistan opposes hosting the Champions Trophy under a hybrid model, and urged India to clarify its concerns regarding travel, as reported by Dawn News.
The relationship between India and Pakistan is at a historic low. The Indian cricket team faces significant security risks if they were to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, Dr Suvrokamal Dutta, an esteemed expert in international conservative political economy and foreign policy revealed during an interview with Sputnik.
Suvrokamal Dutta contended that cricket diplomacy cannot operate in isolation; it is inevitably influenced by the political relationships between countries. Given the current political dynamics between India and Pakistan, as well as those between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, cricket — and indeed any sport — will certainly be impacted.
"For Pakistan, hosting the Champions Trophy is very important for improving its terrible and sagging image at the international level. However, with India not participating and if Afghanistan also boycotts it, there will be disastrous consequences for Pakistan's deteriorating image on the global stage," he further underlined.
In a conversation with Sputnik, Muhammad Ali Baig, an expert from the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), spotlighted the magnitude of cricket diplomacy. He stated that cricket is essential, but it should not be overshadowed by geopolitics. Cricket connects people, especially the Indian and Pakistani populations, with sports playing a vital role in bridging divides.
He further noted that the BCCI's decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan is a political one. He also hoped the Indian team would eventually visit Pakistan, allowing people from both countries to come together in a cricket stadium and share moments of joy.