ICC Champions Trophy 2025: "Pakistan is not safe to travel for Indian team," says Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh asserted that the safety of Indian players is paramount.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is of the belief that the Indian cricket team should not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because of safety concerns in the country.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is slated to be played in February-March in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted its draft schedule to the ICC. In that, the PCB has allotted Lahore as the sole venue for all of India’s matches, adding that should India reach the semi-final, they will play in Lahore, which will also host the final.

The PCB has pencilled India to play all their games in Lahore so as to not have too many logistical changes regarding security during the tournament.

However, it is highly unlikely that the Indian government and the BCCI will agree on sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan. This could force a hybrid-model tournament as it happened with the Asia Cup 2023, where India played their matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka.

In Pakistan, incidents occur almost every day: Harbhajan Singh

While the BCCI and ICC are yet to make any comments regarding India’s travel to Pakistan, former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels the Men In Blue shouldn’t tour their neighbour due to security threat to their lives.

Speaking with IANS, Harbhajan said, “Why should the Indian team go to Pakistan? There is a safety concern in Pakistan. The situation in Pakistan is such that incidents occur almost every day. I don’t think it’s safe (for the team) to go there. The stance of the BCCI is absolutely correct and nothing is more important than the safety of our players. I support BCCI’s stand.”

Pakistan are defending champions of the Champions Trophy, having won it in its previous edition in 2017 by defeating India in the final.

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