Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has added fuel to the fire amidst the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 confusion of whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan who are the hosts of the tournament.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 due to strained political issues between the two countries. As a result, the BCCI needs the permission of the Indian government to send the Indian team to Pakistan.
The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup. India refused to tour Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup with India playing its matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan had refused to tour India for the Asia Cup in 2018, leading to the tournament being moved to Dubai.
While BCCI has stood its ground in seeking the Indian government’s approval for sending Team India to Pakistan, the PCB has reportedly offered multiple alternatives to the Men in Blue.
PCB has reportedly arranged all of India’s matches in Lahore and stayed in a single hotel during the entire tournament for security purposes. They have seemingly put the onus on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in with the scheduling and to mediate.
Amid ongoing conversations, Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan captain, has claimed that India should tour Pakistan, as the Men in Green traveled to India despite death threats to the team.
“Hum itni baar India gaye hai. Mushkil halat mein gaye. Humein dhamkiya bhi milti rahi fir bhi hum India ke tour karte rahe. Aapki niyat se pata chal gaya. Humne India ko support kiya hai. Humko threat milte rahe but Pakistan Cricket Board and government ne initiative liya hai. Agar Indian cricket board (BCCI) ki niyat hai Pakistan ke saath chalne ki toh aajayega. Agar nahi hai, toh nahi aayenge fir security ko bahane bana dege.
(We have gone to India so many times in difficult situations. We got threats and still went to India. We will get to know their intention. We have always supported India. We got threats but the Pakistan Cricket Board and government always took the initiative. If they want to come, they will come. If they do not want to come, they will use security as an excuse),” Afridi told the media at a local event.
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The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in February-March 2025.
