Champions Trophy 2025 : Top officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including chairman Richard Thompson, have suggested that holding the Champions Trophy without India is not an option and there are several other options available if Rohit Sharma's team does not travel to host nation Pakistan.

India has not played cricket in Pakistan since 2008 due to the strained relations between the two countries and their visits are entirely dependent on government approval.

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unlikely to get the government's permission to send the team to Lahore, the Champions Trophy looks like the most likely option in a 'hybrid model'. Like the Asia Cup last year, India could play its matches in a third country while the other matches could be held in Pakistan.

The tournament will be held in February-March. Thompson is in Pakistan with ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gold. He told 'ESPNcricinfo', "India not playing in the Champions Trophy will not be in the interest of cricket." A decision on India's visit to the Champions Trophy can be taken in December before current BCCI secretary Jay Shah takes charge of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah was elected as ICC President in August.

Thompson said, "It is interesting. Former BCCI secretary and now ICC president Jay Shah will have a big role in this. There will be geopolitics and then cricket geopolitics. I think they will find a way. They have to find a way. " ECB CEO Gold said, "If you play in the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, there will be no broadcasting rights and we need to secure them. "

He said, "They (Pakistan) are the host country. We have seen the developments and we are all waiting to understand whether India is going to travel to Pakistan for this. That is the important thing. "We think there are some discussions. I know Pakistan is hoping that India will travel. If that does not happen then there are many different options available. "India and Pakistan play each other in many team tournaments like the World Cup and Asia Cup.