India team won`t go to Pakistan 

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought an alternate venue to play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches.

BCCI has reportedly conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) their inability to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns.  Instead, the Indian cricket board has requested to play all their games in Dubai.

Scheduled from 19 February to 9 March, the Champions Trophy will see the world's top eight teams compete across three Pakistani venues: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

However, the BCCI's decision to abstain from traveling was reportedly made ‘in consultation with the government,’ demonstrating India's consistent stance on security concerns regarding events in Pakistan. 

This echoes a similar approach India took last year during the Asia Cup, where games were shifted to Sri Lanka despite Pakistan's role as host.

This latest development dampens the optimism that arose after recent diplomatic engagements between the two countries. 

Last month, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad.
This high-level exchange was the first of its kind since 2015, creating speculation about renewed bilateral ties, including in cricket.