Shoaib Malik requests India to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025; urges to keep politics “separate”

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Former Pakistan captain and veteran of the game, Shoaib Malik has made a request to the Indian cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which is set to be played in February-March 2025. This earnest request from the fellow Pakistan cricketer comes after uncertainty of India’s participation clouds with the ICC not initiating any talks at the recently concluded Annual General meeting in Colombo.

However, India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012-13, they only feature in ICC tournament and Asia Cup. Moreover, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put the final decision into the Government of India’s hands to decide if India will travel to Pakistan or not. Although, there have been several reports of denial, Shoaib Malik while speaking with cricket Pakistan asserted that politics should be kept separate from sports and India should travel.

"Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that's a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn't come into sports. The Pakistan team went to India last year, and now it's a good opportunity for the Indian team too. I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven't played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. Hum bahut acche log hai (we are good people). We're very hospitable people, so I'm sure the Indian team should definitely come," Malik told Cricket Pakistan.

India to play all matches in Lahore in Champions Trophy 2025

According to the draft schedule, India is set to play all its matches in Lahore during the Champions Trophy 2025, along with semifinal and the final. Moreover, the much-anticipated Indian versus Pakistan clash is scheduled for March 1.