The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly making dedicated efforts to facilitate Indian cricket fans for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.

PCB Chairman and Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, announced plans to simplify visa procedures and reserve a special ticket quota exclusively for Indian spectators, expressing hopes for a strong turnout from across the border.

“We will be keeping a special quota of tickets for Indian fans, and we will try to make the visa issuance policy brisk,” Naqvi remarked during a meeting with Sikh pilgrims from the United States.

As the official schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be released, which is likely to kick off on February 19 with the final match to be played on March 9, the major cities including Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have been selected.

However, India’s participation remains uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still waiting for the government’s decision on whether the team will travel to Pakistan.

The Indian cricket team’s visit to Pakistan has a historical significance, as the team has not visited the country since 2008 and bilateral matches have since been limited to ICC events and neutral grounds.

Despite the uncertainty, Naqvi voiced confidence that India would participate, underscoring the PCB’s enthusiasm to host the high voltage match between India-Pakistan in Lahore.

“The Indian team should come… we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” he said.

Officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including Chairman Richard Thompson, have stressed that India’s participation is vital to the event’s success, with ECB officials reportedly stating, “Staging the Champions Trophy without India is not an option.”

The ICC is preparing contingency plans in case the BCCI is unable to secure the necessary approvals, underscoring the high stakes and anticipation surrounding the tournament.