The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be played in Pakistan this time and as the tournament is approaching, India’s decision on traveling to Pakistan for the event is becoming increasingly evident.
Many Pakistanis were hoping earlier that the Indian team will travel to Pakistan but now things have become quite clear and it seems highly unlikely that the Indian squad will cross the border, which has left former Pakistani cricket legends frustrated with India’s firm stance.
The PCB official Mohsin Naqvi disclosed on Sunday that the ICC has informed them of India’s unwillingness to play in Pakistan. This has not gone down well with notable figures such as former Pakistani cricketers Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Outspoken as ever, Javed Miandad has even suggested boycotting matches of India. The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has always held a special place for fans, with some believing that these matches are crucial for Pakistan’s revenue generation. However, Javed Miandad thinks otherwise, asserting that Pakistan can thrive without playing India. He hinted that even if India chooses not to participate, the Champions Trophy should proceed as planned. He said to a news agency that it is a joke that such thing is happening, adding that Pakistan cricket will do well even if we stop playing against India at all. Javed Miandad further said that he would like to see how revenue will be earned in the ICC events if India-Pakistan matches are not played.
Recent reports suggest that India has proposed a hybrid model, as per which their matches would take place in UAE or Sri Lanka, though there’s no confirmation from the ICC on whether this will be approved. This concept echoes the 2023 Asia Cup, when matches involving India were shifted from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.
While test teams like Australia, New Zealand and England have recently toured Pakistan for full series, India remains hesitant. The upcoming Champions Trophy in February marks a significant event for Pakistan cricket since international games were halted due to the 2009 attacks.
Inzamam-ul-Haq believes India’s reluctance should not overshadow Pakistan’s opportunity to host a major tournament. India last visited Pakistan for cricket during the 2008 Asia Cup and there’s little indication that the situation will change this time. Inzamam-ul-Haq said that India is letting go a big occasion, adding that the Indian team has no threat to worry about, in fact they will receive great hospitality.
The former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif echoed the sentiment, calling India’s stance unacceptable. Rashid Latif said that now things have crossed limits as all the other teams are playing in Pakistan but India is still having problems. He alleged that this decision of India of not sending the cricket team to Pakistan is purely political and such things should not have any place in sports including cricket.
Whatever the former Pakistani cricketers and experts say, BCCI is in no mood to send team India to Pakistan and now the big question is whether the PCB will change its stance and organise India’s matches at neutral venues or it will proceed to organise the tournament without India.
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