(Image source from: ANI)

There has been a lot of debate over India's participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy. While there were concerns about their travel plans, India have made it clear they will not be playing in Pakistan for the tournament. Proposals were made for India to play their games in Dubai, but this was rejected by Pakistan. Currently, both the BCCI and PCB are firm on their stances, leaving the future of the competition uncertain. Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has issued a serious warning to the PCB and ICC, reminding them that without India's participation, they stand to lose around $100 million in sponsorship revenue. Akhtar emphasized that it would be better if India came to play in Lahore, Pakistan, regardless of the outcome.

The national federation announced that the Indian blind cricket team was denied permission to travel to Pakistan for a tournament due to security concerns. The team was scheduled to cross the Wagah border on Wednesday for the event, which was set to take place from November 23 to December 3. Although the sports ministry had issued a no-cost No Objection Certificate for the team to participate, the Ministry of External Affairs did not provide the necessary clearance. The Cricket Association for the Blind in India expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that the team had been preparing for the event and the decision could have been communicated earlier. The association said they would accept the government's decision, as the security of the mainstream cricket team is also a concern.

The cricket official stated that the team should have informed the decision earlier, like a month or 25 days ago, as there is a process involved. The blind cricket team is currently staying in New Delhi, where they had a 25-day training camp prior to selecting the members for the World Cup squad.