Because of the political tensions between the two countries, it is uncertain whether India will go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. If India decides not to play in the Champions Trophy, it will hurt cricket and broadcasters.
The BCCI is reportedly trying to persuade the ICC to adopt a hybrid model for the big event, which will be easier for them when Jay Shah becomes the new chairman of cricket’s governing body.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is set to start on February 19, with the final on March 9. Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been chosen as the venues.
The PCB chief is confident that the BCCI will send the Indian team for the event since the board has arranged for India to play all their matches in Lahore. The PCB has already begun renovating the stadiums to prepare for the tournament.
Thompson believes that Shah, who will be the new ICC chairman, will help clear up any uncertainties about India’s participation in the Champions Trophy.
“It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy. It’s interesting, with Jay Shah – the former secretary of the BCCI and now chair of the ICC – [who] is going to have a big role to play in that. There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. I think they’ll find a way. They have to find a way,” Thompson said on ESPNCricinfo.
Thompson expressed confidence that all parties could reach an agreement, referencing the meeting between the two sides at the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States this year.
“That’s between India and Pakistan, and I think they will find a way where India will participate in the Champions Trophy… These things tend to go to the wire, as history has shown us, so I think that in those [last] six months, they’ll find a way,” he added.
Gould and ECB chair Richard Thompson are currently in Pakistan for England’s three-test series and have met with Pakistan Cricket Board officials during the ongoing second test in Multan.
