Pakistan white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan has extended a warm welcome to India cricket team for the Champions Trophy 2025. His invitation comes after the ICC was informed that India had refused to travel to the neighbouring country for the marquee event in February 2025. Rizwan, who is currently in Australia on his first assignment as captain, said that the Indian team would always be welcome to Pakistan.
Rizwan extends warm welcome to India for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Ever since India refused to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025, the PCB has been making an all-out effort to retain complete hosting rights for the event. They even went on to claim that sides like England, New Zealand and Bangladesh had toured Pakistan and there was no issues with security whatsoever. Rizwan echoed similar sentiments, while name dropping KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav in his welcome for Team India.
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Pakistan’s threats amid CT 2025 row
Dragging India to court for refusing to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 was one of the threats issued by Pakistan. The other threats include withdrawing from the tournament if a hybrid model is adopted, boycotting future ICC events where India will be participating in and writing a letter to the ICC seeking clarity on why India refused to travel to Pakistan. Reports also suggested that the ICC was willing to move Champions Trophy 2025 to South Africa or UAE if Pakistan refuses to accept the hybrid model.
Although PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had previously rejected a hybrid approach, it appears that the BCCI’s adamant position has compelled an another look. This surprising development by the neighboring country seems to have been prompted by the PCB’s earlier gesture of sending the Pakistani squad to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, even though India had declined to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup in the same year.
