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Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian cricket team will not be traveling to Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy due to security concerns, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI, in a recent communication to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), reiterated its position and requested that their matches be shifted to Dubai.

A source familiar with the situation stated, “This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai.”

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The Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, will feature the top eight cricketing nations. The tournament was originally planned to be hosted in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, the BCCI has made it clear that their stance on the matter remains unchanged, despite ongoing consultations with the Indian government. This is similar to India’s approach before the Asia Cup last year, when they successfully requested the relocation of their matches to Sri Lanka, despite pressure from the PCB.

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This decision comes despite some optimism surrounding the potential normalization of cricketing ties between the two nations. Last month, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a direct meeting, marking the first high-level dialogue between the two countries since 2015. The meeting raised hopes of improved relations, leading to speculation about the resumption of cricketing ties.

While the PCB made efforts to convince the BCCI, even suggesting that the Indian team could return to India after each match, it appears the issue will remain unresolved for now, with both boards likely to continue their discussions in the coming weeks.