 "Contrasting views are emerging from Pakistan over Champions Trophy tussle with India. Images: AP/PTI")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that Team India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the tough stand has put the tournament in limbo. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly doing everything to get the hosts Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to a ‘Hybrid Model,’ however, that is proving to be a tough task as the government has decided to host the entire tournament.
Rizwan: ‘Pakistan players will welcome Indians’
Amid all the uncertainty, Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has extended the invitation to KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and the Indian team as he hoped for a quick resolution to the problem.
“KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav are all welcome. All the players who will come, we will welcome them. This is not our decision, this is PCB’s decision. Whatever decision will take place, hopefully they will all discuss and take the right call. But we are hopeful that if the Indian players will come, we will welcome them,” Rizwan said in a press conference for the T20I series against Australia.
Also Read | Pakistan could lose millions of dollars if Champions Trophy 2025 is moved out of the country
Rashid Latif: ‘Don’t play against Pakistan’
Not everyone, however, is as courteous as Rizwan. Former wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has said that Pakistan should stop playing cricket against India due to their constant denial to visit their country.
“There’s a big possibility that Pakistan can stop playing cricket against India. Had I been in power, then, yes, I may have taken this strong step. I would not blame anyone for this. If you don’t want to play (in Pakistan), then don’t play against us (at all),” Latif told PTI Videos. “If I would have been there, I would have taken this decision, and fought against the BCCI.”
Latif also added that the ICC should stop awarding global tournaments to both India and Pakistan until they resolve their bilateral issues.
“In my opinion, ICC should withhold the hosting rights for both countries until these issues between them are resolved; until their problems are settled,” said Latif.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBCCI’s stand on Champions Trophy
The BCCI communicated to ICC last week that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place in February-March. It also forced ICC to postpone their 11 November event in Lahore to announce the tournament schedule as they are now working on securing a Hybrid Model for the event. The BCCI has refused to travel to Pakistan due to security arrangements but PCB wants a written communication from the Indian board on their issues.
PCB says that ample security arrangements will be made and recently New Zealand and England also toured Pakistan which means the country is safe to host an ICC tournament.