Rajeev Shukla Gives Official Statement On India vs Pakistan Bilateral Matches Future

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president, Rajeev Shukla, has revealed why the blue brigade could not play a single encounter of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Rohit Sharma’s army went through the entire tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Rajeev Shukla's comments have come during the second semifinal of the event between South Africa and New Zealand at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the latter destroyed the Proteas for 50 runs to qualify for the final of the tournament and will face India on March 09 in Dubai.

Rajeev Shukla visited Pakistan to attend the second semifinal

The current chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, has invited all the members of the participating boards to enjoy the second semifinal of the eight-team tournament in Dubai. Rajeev Shukla was one of the five representatives from different boards to enjoy the mouth-watering knockout clash with Naqvi.

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Along with Shukla, New Zealand’s Roger Twose, Bangladesh’s Farooq Ahmed, South Africa’s Pholetsi Isaac Moseki, and Dr. Mohammad Mosie were also present during the game.

With India not visiting Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Shukla’s visit gained a lot of attention. This was the second time the veteran went on to attend a function in the neighboring nation in the last two years, having visited the place during the Asia Cup 2023, which took place in a hybrid model.

Rajeev Shukla reveals the possibility of India and Pakistan’s bilateral series in the future

Rajeev Shukla attended the media as well and he touched on the possibility of the two countries getting engaged in a bilateral series shortly. He reckoned that the entire scenario would depend on the government clearance, which would be the key for it to happen.

Shukla claimed that the two sides can face each other across formats in the hybrid model only if the government approves.

“Indian cricket team could not visit Pakistan due to a lack of government clearance. The hybrid model is effective. Cricketing ties between India and Pakistan remain dependent on official government approvals. Unless BCCI gets permission, bilateral cricket cannot take place.” Rajeev Shukla expressed this in an official statement during the presser.

The BCCI wrote to the PCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to inform them of their decision not to travel to Pakistan for the tournament due to the political relationships. Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister of the country, was not prepared to accept the hybrid model at any cost, but later admitted it.

The ICC made it clear that none of these two sides would host each other even in their tournaments, which has ruled out the chance of the blue brigade hosting the Green Brigade for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

India qualifies for the Champions Trophy 2025 final

The Indian team enjoyed a strong preparation for the ICC event with a clean sweep 3-0 series victory against England at home before they started their campaign with a strong victory against Bangladesh, thanks to the century from Shubman Gill.

Also Read: Watch: Hardik Pandya Smashes Six At Jay Shah During Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal vs Australia

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century carried them over the line against Pakistan, while Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul was enough to bail them out of trouble against the Kiwis. Against Australia in the semifinal, India showed an all-round performance to qualify for the final of the tournament.

It will be their third successive final of the tournament, having won the title in 2013 and finished as the runners-up in the 2017 season.