'Indian team won't travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy': Vikrant Gupta

Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta has revealed that the Indian cricket team will not be travelling to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy, marking a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Vikrant Gupta’s statement, made during a TV interview, comes as the media reports suggest that India’s decision has been communicated to Pakistan through indirect channels, rather than official announcements.

According to Vikrant Gupta, the idea behind revealing this information through the media was to mentally prepare Pakistan for the likelihood that India would not participate in the Champions Trophy.

He clarified that at no stage did it appear that India would agree to play the tournament in Pakistan, as the decision was never fully in the hands of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"The media has been the battleground for India and Pakistan's cricketing tensions," Gupta said. "If anyone thinks that this decision was made today, they are mistaken. It never seemed likely that India would go, as the BCCI had no full control over the matter."

Vikrant Gupta also noted that while countries typically send teams to compete in International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments regardless of the host nation, the situation between India and Pakistan is unique. He further mentioned that it was not officially communicated to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yet, despite the growing speculation in the media.

Former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif weighed in on the issue, calling out the security argument often raised when India decides against playing in Pakistan.

He pointed out that countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and England had recently visited Pakistan, so if security concerns were being used as a reason for India’s withdrawal, there needed to be substantial evidence to support that claim.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the PCB has not yet received any formal communication from the BCCI regarding India’s decision to pull out of the Champions Trophy.

PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, in an interview following a visit to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, clarified that the Indian board had not sent any official letter. "

If we do receive a formal notice of India’s non-participation, we will approach the government. However, for now, we will continue our preparations for the Champions Trophy," Naqvi said.

While the situation remains fluid, the ongoing media speculation has stirred debate across the cricketing world, with many questioning the future of the Champions Trophy and the possibility of a "hybrid" model for the event, with matches being held at neutral venues.