LAHORE: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla has made it clear that the Indian cricket team will not visit Pakistan for any matches or bilateral series unless they receive permission from the Indian government.

Speaking to the media at Gaddafi Stadium, Shukla expressed his delight at being in Lahore and praised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for organizing the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. “It feels very good to be at Gaddafi Stadium and in Lahore,” Shukla said. He commended the PCB’s efforts, stating, “The PCB has organized this tournament very well.”

Addressing the arrangements for the Champions Trophy and India playing at one venue, Shukla mentioned that all matters were settled before the start of the tournament. “All matters were settled before the start of the Champions Trophy,” he stated and added that they were also playing on different wickets of the venue.

Regarding the Indian team’s visit to Pakistan, Shukla emphasized that the decision lies with the Indian government. “The decision for the Indian team to come to Pakistan has to be made by the Indian government,” he explained.

He also highlighted the Indian board’s policy on bilateral series, saying, “The Indian board’s policy is to play bilateral series in their respective countries.” Shukla also touched upon the Asia Cup and future prospects, indicating that the current situation remains unchanged. “Regarding the Asia Cup, the current situation remains unchanged,” he said. He acknowledged the global interest in India-Pakistan matches, adding,

“The world will offer to host matches between Pakistan and India.” Shukla’s presence at the high-profile fixture between South Africa and New Zealand has drawn considerable attention, given the recent diplomatic tensions surrounding India’s participation in Pakistan.

The BCCI’s earlier refusal to send the Indian men’s national team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing directives from the Indian government, led to a prolonged standoff between the BCCI and PCB. Both boards engaged in extensive negotiations over the tournament’s hosting arrangements.

The dispute ultimately resulted in the introduction of the ‘Fusion Formula’—a compromise put forth by the PCB—which states that when either India or Pakistan hosts a multi-nation tournament over the next three years, the two arch-rivals will play their matches at neutral venues.

For the Champions Trophy 2025, Dubai was selected as the neutral location. Shukla’s visit to Lahore is being viewed as a potential step toward easing cricketing relations between the two neighboring nations.

While there has been no official word on further discussions between the BCCI and PCB during the visit, Shukla’s presence in Lahore signals an openness to dialogue and future cooperation.