The upcoming edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year. However. India’s participation in the tournament remains a doubt.
Rohit Sharma & Babar Azam
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
- India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008.
- The Asia Cup also had to be conducted in Sri Lanka.
India’s participation in the Champions Trophy remains under heavy doubt. The 2025 edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan as things stand.
India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 to take part in a bilateral series and since then they haven’t visited their neighbouring country. The last edition of the Asia Cup was also hosted by Pakistan but the ACC had to conduct all of India’s matches in Sri Lanka separately.
This time too, the Indian team is very unlikely to travel to Pakistan and BCCI could ask the ICC to arrange for an alternative venue to conduct all the matches as per reports. Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram however remains hopeful and invited the Men In Blue to travel to his country as he insisted the Indian Cricket Team will be welcomed in a grand manner.
In an interaction with IANS, he said, “I hope that India does come to Pakistan. The whole country is looking forward to receiving all the teams. We will grandly welcome them.”
Akram also highlighted that keeping in mind the grand tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board has already started working on renovating and building stadiums around the country for the Champions Trophy. “The facilities are great, and new stadiums are being built. The chairman Mohsin Naqvi has started new stadiums in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. So I think it will be a great tournament”.
Akram also added that his country needed to conduct this tournament in order to develop Pakistan Cricket for its betterment.
“Pakistan needs that tournament for the betterment of cricket and world cricket and I hope that all the teams do the tour as I feel that cricket and politics should be separate.
“Overall everything is ready, Pakistan, the whole country is looking forward to this event. The team, the dignitaries, the press I hope all of you are there to see it”.
India is currently playing a five match T20I series against Zimbabwe and then will travel to Sri Lanka to take part in a 3 match T20I and 3 match ODI series.