(Reuters) – India’s participation within the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan is a “difficult” problem for the Worldwide Cricket Council however the world governing physique mentioned it’s assured all groups will journey to the nation for the match.
Worldwide sides have largely steered away from Pakistan since an assault by Islamist militants on the Sri Lanka staff bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.
The 50-over match would be the first ICC occasion hosted by Pakistan because it shared the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka and final week’s announcement got here as an enormous increase after England and New Zealand pulled out of excursions there in September.
Requested if the ICC was assured groups would journey to Pakistan, chairman Greg Barclay advised reporters on Monday: “From what we are able to see, completely.
“We would not have awarded the occasion if we did not suppose Pakistan was able to internet hosting it.
“I am certain, as with all nations, they may put collectively applicable safety plans to ship the occasion. We’re comfy and assured it’ll go forward.”
There have been fears the choices by New Zealand and England would once more dampen the prospects of worldwide cricket in Pakistan however Australia confirmed this month they might tour subsequent 12 months for the primary time since 1998.
The prospects of India travelling to Pakistan for the primary time because the 2008 Asia Cup stay unclear, nonetheless.
Anurag Thakur, India’s sports activities minister and former cricket board chief, advised reporters final week safety was the principle concern and that the federal government would make the decision when the time comes.
India hosted Pakistan in a bilateral sequence in 2013 however the bitter neighbours not often meet outdoors world tournaments nowadays. Pakistan performed in India on the 2011 World Cup in addition to the T20 World Cup in 2016.
“We all know it is a difficult problem,” Barclay mentioned. “From my standpoint, I am unable to management geo-political forces.
“I simply hope cricket is usually a power to assist enhance relations between nations. One of many nice issues sports activities can do is to assist convey nations collectively. If we are able to do one thing in a small technique to contribute to that, that is implausible.”
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; modifying by Peter Rutherford)