 "Champions Trophy 2025: 'Indian cricket team not travelling to Pakistan is unfortunate'")
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is disappointed that the Indian cricket team will not be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, with their matches being held in Dubai under the hybrid model . After India refused to travel to Pakistan due to security issues, the International Cricket Council (ICC) under chairman Jay Shah’s guidance settled for a hybrid model for all ICC events till 2027 in India and Pakistan, allowing India and Pakistan to play their matches at neutral venues .
Watson feels that given the historic rivalry between India and Pakistan, hosting the matches in Pakistan would have been most ideal.
‘India not travelling to Pakistan is unfortunate’
“It’s unfortunate that things worked out that way. But there’s no doubt that what everyone loves is watching the India-Pakistan game,” Watson said. “Whenever they come together, whether in ICC events, it’s a really special time because we get a sense of what’s on the line. From an Australian cricket perspective, we know how big the rivalry is between us and England. The India-Pakistan rivalry is just as huge. No cricket fan wants to miss that game. So, it’s unfortunate that India aren’t travelling to Pakistan for this Champions Trophy.”
The 43-year-old Watson, who played in Pakistan during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), said an ICC event returning to the country was a huge opportunity for the cricket fans in the nation.
“It’s gonna be huge for the Pakistan cricket fans to be able to have the opportunity to watch world-class cricket in the country,” he said. “I got a small opportunity to play in the Pakistan Super League in 2019, the first time after playing there in 2005. It was one of the highlights of my career. To go to Pakistan after a long time and see the love and joy they have for cricket was incredible. They were starved of world-class live cricket,” Watson added.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will start on 19 February with Pakistan playing against New Zealand at Karachi in the tournament opener. Lahore and Rawalpindi will also host the matches in the tournament.
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