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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently confirmed on India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had officially communicated on the same to the International Cricket Council (ICC). As per the statement, quoted by PTI, “The PCB has received an e-mail from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”
However, the PCB has further informed of the decision being forwarded to the Pakistan government and has seek for their advice on the matter, several former Pakistan cricketers have lashed out at the BCCI for their decision. It is to be noted that India hasn’t toured Pakistan since 2008 Asia Cup. Moreover, the two nations haven’t featured in any bilateral series since 2012-13 and continue to meet only in ICC events.
Rashid Latif lashes out at BCCI over India’s participation in Champions Trophy
Speaking after the PCB confirmed BCCI’s decision, former Pakistan cricketer, Rashid Latif once again put out his frustration adding, “Enough is enough. When all teams are playing in Pakistan without any problem, this decision by India is purely political and that should be unacceptable in all sports including cricket.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad react after India’s decision to not travel to Pakistan for CT’25
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also opened up after the ICC informed PCB of India’s decision to not travel to Pakistan for the marquee tournament. He also remained confident while stating that they will be taken care of if they visit Pakistan in 2025. “They are depriving cricket of such a big occasion. There is no threat to the Indian team in Pakistan. In fact, they would get the best hospitality here,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by PTI.
However, he was the only one to react as former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad also added that India’s decision has become a joke while adding that if India-Pakistan matches aren’t played, PCB will then also survive. “It is a joke that this is happening. Even if we don’t play India at all, Pakistan cricket will not only survive but prosper as well as we have shown in the past,” Miandad said, as quoted by TimesNow.
“I would like to see how ICC events earn money when there are no Pakistan and India matches,” he further added. The eight-team tournament is set to be played from February 19 with the final scheduled to be played on March 9 in Lahore. However, according to the tentative schedule, all India games have been kept in Lahore.
