Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan propose Lahore for India games

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has preliminarily designated venues for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan has decided to host India's matches only in Lahore, maintaining the host's dignity.

The countdown for the eight-team Champions Trophy has not yet concluded, but preparations for this prestigious event will commence around February next year. Apart from Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are also being considered as venues by the organizers.

Though it's still uncertain whether India will visit Pakistan, PCB has earmarked Lahore for India's matches after much deliberation, considering the political relations between the two countries and India's reluctance to play in Pakistan during the Asia Cup. 

As Lahore is a neighboring city to India, Indian supporters can easily travel there to watch the matches. Furthermore, the organizers are considering minimizing travel for the Indian team. PCB has recently revealed that they have submitted the blueprint for the Champions Trophy and the venues to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Pakistan, the defending champion of the Champions Trophy, defeated India in the final under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed in the last edition in 2017. If Pakistan hosts the Champions Trophy, it will be the first time the tournament is held in Pakistan. Although Pakistan had the opportunity to host the tournament in 2008, it was moved to South Africa due to security concerns (2009).

After the 2008 Asia Cup, India did not play cricket in Pakistan. When India expressed its reluctance to visit Pakistan, Pakistan had to organize the Asia Cup in a hybrid model, where India played their matches in Sri Lanka.

Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see whether the next year's Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and how successful ICC and PCB will be in managing this issue.