How Can India And Pakistan Meet Thrice In Champions Trophy 2025?

Indian and Pakistan captains, Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam (x.com)Indian and Pakistan captains, Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam (x.com)

Pakistan is scheduled to host an ICC event after 25 long years, as the Champions Trophy is set to be hosted in February 2025. Meanwhile, the fate of the tournament hangs on a thin threat as the BCCI is still deciding whether to send Team India to the upcoming ICC event. However, it is believed that the Champions Trophy could be hosted in the hybrid model. 

Having said that, if the BCCI decides to send their team to contest in the Champions Trophy, India and Pakistan could play three times in the tournament. 

It is understood that both the arch-rivals will be kept in the same group. Then, they proceed further, which is highly likely - both of them will face each other in the Super 4s, and if Luck favours them, they might play each other for the third time in the finals. 

ICC has approved a budget of approximately USD 70 million for holding the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, and USD 4.5 million will be allocated as additional expenses. 

In the last couple of months, many statements have been fired from the PCB's end, but the BCCI has maintained its silence on the issue. 

India and Pakistan last met in bilaterals in 2012-13; however, since then, they have broken their bilateral ties due to geopolitical differences between their governments. 

Nevertheless, hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 is going to be huge for Pakistan as they last co-hosted in an ICC event back in 1996.