The upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan is generating significant buzz, not just for the high-octane cricket it promises, but also for the uncertainty surrounding India’s participation.
Wasim Akram urges India to visit Pakistan
Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram expressed his hope that India will travel to Pakistan for the tournament, emphasizing the importance of such events for the “betterment of cricket” in the country. Akram highlighted Pakistan’s preparedness to host the tournament, boasting about their existing facilities and ongoing construction of new stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.
“I hope that India comes to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The whole country is looking forward to receiving all the teams. The cricket will be great and we will welcome them in splendid fashion. We have great facilities and are working on new stadiums,” Akram said to IANS.
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The draft plan for PCB has India playing all their matches at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This means the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash and the tournament final on March 9 will both be held there. The other two stadiums hosting matches are the National Stadium in Karachi and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Familiar foes, neutral venues all the time
India’s travel to Pakistan for bilateral series has been a contentious issue for years. Since 2006, political tensions have restricted cricket matches between the arch-rivals to ICC events. Reports suggest the BCCI’s (Board of Control for Cricket in India) reluctance to send the team to Pakistan might necessitate a “hybrid mode” for the Champions Trophy.
Akram’s optimism stands in contrast to the 2023 Asia Cup situation. Initially planned for Pakistan, the tournament witnessed a shift due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow the team’s travel. Consequently, matches involving India were relocated to Sri Lanka.
This isn’t the first instance of such limitations. Bilateral tours between India and Pakistan have been non-existent since 2012, with encounters limited to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. While the Pakistan team participated in the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India, the BCCI’s stance remains clear: Indian team travel to Pakistan hinges on government approval.
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