India has not toured Pakistan since 2008 due to strained political relations between the two nations, which only face off in global multi-team tournaments, according to AFP.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested clarification from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India refused to travel to Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy, a PCB spokesperson informed Reuters on Tuesday.

Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year, but winners India played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a 'hybrid model'. Despite the Indian cricket board (BCCI) maintaining its stance of not sending a team to Pakistan based on government advice, the PCB has ruled out a similar arrangement for the February 19-March 9 Champions Trophy.

'The PCB has sent a letter to the ICC seeking clarification,' the spokesperson said, adding that they are awaiting advice from the Pakistani government before deciding their next step.

The ICC is in discussions with the PCB and participating boards before finalizing the schedule for the eight-team tournament, which is set to be hosted in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, marking Pakistan's first global ICC event since 1996.

India's presence is crucial for the commercial success of the ICC event, but Pakistan might withdraw from the tournament if it is moved out of the country, according to sources cited by the Dawn newspaper.

Last year's Asia Cup in Pakistan operated under a hybrid model, with India playing their matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars since their partition in 1947, and their rivalry often spills onto the cricket field.

Indian and Pakistani media have speculated about potential solutions to the impasse, but excluding India from the equation does not seem feasible. Any cricket match between the two nations is among the most-watched events globally.

'If you play the Champions Trophy without India or Pakistan, the broadcast rights aren't there, and we need to protect them,' said Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

He added, 'This is a big moment for Pakistan, and hopefully, we can have the fullest possible competition in Pakistan. If that's not possible, we know there are options available.'

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