LAHORE: Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), shared his views on the bilateral cricket series between the Pakistan and India teams during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
While speaking to the media during the match between New Zealand and South Africa, Shukla emphasized that BCCI’s policy regarding bilateral series remains unchanged and that the Indian government will decide whether the team will travel to Pakistan.
“India and Pakistan will only play bilateral series in their respective countries, not at neutral venues. It is Indian board’s policy that bilateral series will be played on home soils,” he said.
Rajeev Shukla further praised Pakistan’s arrangement for the ICC Champions Trophy and expressed his delight at visiting Lahore.
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“It feels great to be here. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made very good arrangements to organize the tournament,” he remarked.
Shukla mentioned that the current status of the Asia Cup remains unchanged while admitting that different countries want to host India-Pakistan matches and they have offered to stage them.
“World wants to host India-Pakistan matches. Multiple countries had offered to stage them,” said Shukla.
It is important to note that Pakistan and India last played a bilateral series in 2012-2013. During the successful tour of India, green shirts won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20I series ended in a 1-1 tie.
For the unversed, the full implications of the India’s refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.
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Political tensions between the neighbours mean India has not played a cricket match in Pakistan since 2008 and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were not inclined to change the policy for the Champions Trophy, citing government advice over security issues.
As a result, although the rest of the tournament is taking place in Pakistan, India played all their group matches in Dubai and will play the final on 9 March at the Dubai International cricket stadium.
Read: Champions Trophy: Williamson, Ravindra’s centuries power NZ to 362 against SA in semi-final