Indian government to decide on India's participation in 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rewarded the hosting rights of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to Pakistan in a host release for ICC tournaments during the 2024-2031 cycle on Tuesday. It will be the first ICC tournament in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, that was also co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. 

There are doubts over India's participation in the tournament. The Sports Minister and former BCCI president Anurag Thakur clarified that the Indian government will monitor the security situation in Pakistan at the time and will take decisions depending on circumstances. 

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What Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said about the participation in Champions Trophy 2025 :

"The Indian government - the Home Ministry - has earlier also made its decision. When such global tournaments happen several factors are considered," Thakur told reporters in Delhi.

"Even in the past, you would have seen many countries have pulled out to go there (Pakistan) and play. Because the situation there is not normal there. Security is the main challenge there like teams have been attacked in the past, which is a concern. So when the time comes, the Indian government will make a decision depending on the circumstances then."

Minister of Sports, Anurag Thakur said

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India hasn't have played an international series in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Their last bilateral tour of Pakistan dates back to 2005-06. Meanwhile, that's when the Rahul Dravid-led side lost 0-1 in a three-match Test series, before winning the ODI series 4-1. The tense political relations between the two countries have limited bilateral series. However, the last of which came in India in 2012-13. Since then, the teams have only met head-to-head in Asia Cup and ICC tournaments.