Shoaib Malik, former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has extended an invitation to the Indian cricket team to participate in the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. He emphasized the need to keep politics separate from sports, urging that any bilateral issues should not interfere with cricketing engagements. Despite Pakistan's visit to India for the ODI World Cup in 2023, India's participation remains uncertain due to ongoing political tensions, with reports suggesting they may seek alternative venues for their matches. Malik expressed that many Indian players have never played in Pakistan and highlighted the country's hospitality. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering moving the tournament matches to locations like Sri Lanka or Dubai, as bilateral series have been on hiatus since 2008. The ICC has yet to address these logistical concerns regarding the tournament's schedule and format.