Message from Pakistan’s new ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan to India before ICC Champions Trophy 2025: A Powerful Statement

New Delhi: The ongoing dispute over the ICC Champions Trophy venue continues to create uncertainty, prompting Pakistan's newly appointed ODI and T20I captain, Mohammad Rizwan, to share his thoughts on the matter. Given the difficulty of the Indian team traveling to Pakistan for the tournament, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put forth a request for alternate venues. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other involved parties making persistent efforts to keep the tournament in Pakistan, a solution has yet to be reached.

Rizwan, who has taken over as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain in place of Babar Azam, has extended an invitation to the Indian team, urging them to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

“Fans here love Indian cricketers, and they would be thrilled to see the Indian team play in Pakistan. If they come, we will give them a warm welcome,” Rizwan said on the subject.

Uncertainty persists regarding India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan, as the nation has not engaged in any cricket tournaments there since the 2008 Asia Cup. This absence is largely attributed to strained relations between the two countries stemming from issues related to terrorism.

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place from December 2012 to January 2013 in India. Since then, the two nations have only faced each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. Conversely, Pakistan has visited India three times since the 2008 Asia Cup, highlighting the ongoing complexities in their cricketing relationship.

Recently, reports have emerged indicating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering three potential options for hosting the Champions Trophy. These options come amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the venue, particularly concerning the participation of the Indian team in Pakistan.

According to reports, the ICC is exploring two main options for the Champions Trophy: proceeding with the tournament in Pakistan as initially planned or implementing a hybrid model that would see the event hosted in both Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under this hybrid model, matches involving India and knockout stage games would be held in Dubai. The third option being considered is to host the entire tournament outside Pakistan, with potential venues including Dubai, Sri Lanka, or South Africa.