Crew India‘s refusal to journey to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked widespread reactions throughout the cricketing world. Whereas Pakistani followers categorical disappointment over lacking out on a possible high-profile occasion on dwelling soil, many Indian followers assist the BCCI’s stance, citing safety issues.
Hybrid mannequin on playing cards after India’s refusal
Notably, the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally knowledgeable the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) that India won’t journey to Pakistan for the event, citing safety issues. The ICC, in response, is now reportedly contemplating a hybrid mannequin to facilitate India’s participation. Underneath this association, India’s matches would seemingly be held in a impartial location, with the United Arab Emirates rising as a possible different, whereas the rest of the event would nonetheless happen in Pakistan.
To not point out, this method is much like the current 2023 Asia Cup, the place India’s matches had been hosted exterior Pakistan as a result of related issues. A ultimate choice from the ICC is awaited because it navigates the complexities of internet hosting a multi-nation occasion amidst diplomatic and safety challenges.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the primary occasion of a group declining to go to a number nation for an ICC event. Right here’s a have a look at different notable moments when groups opted out of touring to host international locations for main ICC occasions.
Additionally READ: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to be moved from Pakistan to South Africa?
Cases when groups opted out of touring to a number nation for an ICC event
1996 Cricket World Cup – Australia and West Indies boycott matches in Sri Lanka
In the course of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, each Australia and the West Indies refused to play their scheduled matches in Sri Lanka as a result of safety issues. On the time, Sri Lanka was experiencing civil unrest, and the 2 groups had been apprehensive in regards to the security of their gamers. Regardless of reassurances from the ICC and the Sri Lankan authorities, Australia and the West Indies forfeited their matches, giving Sri Lanka automated victories. In the end, Sri Lanka went on to win the event, their first-ever World Cup victory.
2003 Cricket World Cup – England and New Zealand forfeit matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya
The 2003 Cricket World Cup, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, noticed England and New Zealand decline to play in Zimbabwe and Kenya, respectively. England withdrew from its scheduled match in Zimbabwe as a result of issues over political tensions and human rights points within the nation, whereas New Zealand refused to journey to Kenya, citing safety threats. Each groups forfeited their factors for the matches, impacting their general standings within the event.
1982 Girls’s World Cup – West Indies opted to skip New Zealand
In 1981, New Zealand invited the South African rugby group, sparking worldwide protests as a result of apartheid in South Africa. In response, the West Indies determined to not journey to New Zealand for the 1982 Girls’s Cricket World Cup. This left the event organizers to discipline an Worldwide XI group, comprised of cricketers from numerous different collaborating nations, to fill the hole left by the West Indies’ absence.
2009 T20 World Cup – Zimbabwe’s voluntary withdrawal from enjoying in England
Zimbabwe Cricket voluntarily withdrew from the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup in England, as they had been knowledgeable that the British authorities may deny visas to their gamers. Zimbabwe then Cricket’s chairman, Peter Chingoka, said, “We don’t need to be gatecrashers; we are going to attend solely these weddings to which we’re invited.” With Zimbabwe’s exit, a further spot opened up within the qualifiers, which allowed a 3rd Affiliate group, Scotland, to affix Eire and the Netherlands in the primary event.
2025 ICC Champions Trophy – India’s refusal to tour Pakistan
Just lately, India have conveyed to the ICC that they’d not journey to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, once more citing safety issues. As of now, the ICC is contemplating a hybrid mannequin, permitting India’s matches to be held in a impartial location, seemingly the UAE. The ICC’s ultimate choice on the matter is pending, however this occasion underlines the continuing safety and diplomatic challenges going through worldwide cricket.
