Lahore: In light of India’s withdrawal from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the federal government has suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) invite another team to replace India.
According to media sources, PCB officials have completed legal consultations on the government’s advice, and the board has decided to write a letter to the ICC. The government has instructed PCB to work on inviting Sri Lanka or the West Indies in case of India’s refusal to participate.
Express sources report that the federal government has informed PCB of the guidelines on its policy regarding India, and PCB is expected to seek clarification from the ICC about India’s refusal. In an email sent to PCB, the ICC had stated that the BCCI verbally communicated their withdrawal.
Government sources emphasized that a Pakistan-India match cannot happen without both teams, stating that Pakistan holds equal importance to India in such events. Officials have instructed PCB to consult with other boards, informing them that Pakistan has always adopted a positive approach. Therefore, India no longer has the moral or legal grounds to avoid playing.
It is worth mentioning that in 1996, Australia and the West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka, and in 2003, New Zealand refused to play in Kenya, and England refused to play in Zimbabwe. The ICC awarded points to the opposing teams in the matches involving the withdrawing teams.
