Discussions heat up about India playing in Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy

As the ICC Champions Trophy gets closer, there’s a lot of talk about whether the Indian cricket team will travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Pakistan has promised full security and various facilities for Indian visitors.

Recently, Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announced that they will quickly process visas for Indian fans who want to come to Pakistan to watch the matches. 

He made this statement after meeting Sikh pilgrims from the United States. Naqvi is hopeful that Indian fans will respond positively to the invitation.

He said, "We will set aside a special ticket quota for Indian supporters and will work on a fast visa issuance policy." 

He also invited Indian fans to come to Pakistan to see the India-Pakistan match in Lahore.

Since preparations for the Champions Trophy began, there have been many discussions about India’s possible trip to Pakistan.

 Some are asking whether India’s matches should be played at a neutral location or if the entire tournament should be moved elsewhere. 

However, Pakistan is confident about hosting the tournament with India participating and is taking steps to ensure this happens.

Earlier, reports suggested that if there were security concerns, the PCB proposed that the Indian cricket team could return to India on the same day after each match. 

However, it seems that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may not agree to this plan. Meanwhile, former Pakistani cricketers are also urging the Indian team to play in Pakistan. 

Recently, legendary bowler Wasim Akram encouraged India to visit.

Known as the "Sultan of Swing," Akram said, "From what I’ve read, it seems there is a good atmosphere between the Indian government and the BCCI. I’ve heard that India plans to play their matches in Lahore and possibly return home the same night. As long as India feels comfortable with that, I’m optimistic." 

He added, "If India comes to Pakistan, it would be a huge moment for cricket and a great opportunity for Pakistan."

The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in February-March next year, but the exact schedule has not been released yet. 

Everything depends on whether India decides to make the trip. The BCCI has stated that it will follow any decisions made by the government regarding the tour. 

Since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008, the Indian team has not visited Pakistan, and the two teams have not played against each other in a Test match since 2007.