ICC finds India's participation in 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan 'challenging'

Last year, England and New Zealand had pulled out of plans to tour the country; Australia set to tour Pak first time since 1998

India's participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan is a "challenging" issue for the International Cricket Council (ICC) but the world governing body said it is confident all teams will travel to the country for the tournament.

International sides have largely steered clear of Pakistan since an attack by Islamist militants on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians.

The 50-over tournament will be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan since it shared the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka, and last week's announcement came as a big boost after England and New Zealand pulled out of tours there in September.

Asked if the ICC was confident that the teams would travel to Pakistan, chairman Greg Barclay told reporters on Monday: "From what we can see, absolutely. We wouldn't have awarded the event if we didn't think Pakistan was capable of hosting it."

"I'm sure, as with all countries, they will put together appropriate security plans to deliver the event. We're comfortable and confident it will go ahead," Barclay said.

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There were fears that the decisions by New Zealand and England would again dampen the prospects of international cricket in Pakistan, but Australia confirmed this month that they would tour Pakistan next year, for the first time since 1998.

The prospects of India travelling to Pakistan for the first time since the 2008 Asia Cup, however, remain unclear.

Anurag Thakur, India's sports minister and former cricket board chief, told reporters last week security was the main concern and that the government would make the call when the time comes. India hosted Pakistan in a bilateral series in 2013 but the neighbours rarely meet outside global tournaments these days. Pakistan played in India at the 2011 World Cup as well as the T20 World Cup in 2016.

"We know it's a challenging issue," Barclay said. "From my point of view, I can't control geopolitical forces. I just hope cricket can be a force to help improve relations between countries. One of the great things sports can do is to help bring nations together. If we can do something in a small way to contribute to that, that's fantastic."

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