Pakistan cricketer Hasan Ali has issued a bold statement regarding reports that India might not travel to Pakistan for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. The tournament is set to be hosted by Pakistan, with matches scheduled to begin on February 19 and the final to be played on March 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The possibility of India not participating stems from ongoing political tensions between the two countries. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their matches to neutral venues such as Sri Lanka or Dubai.
In an interview with Samaa TV, Hasan Ali did not mince words when addressing these reports. He emphasized that sports should remain separate from politics and reiterated the importance of hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
“If we’re going to India to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. Many people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics. But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So, it doesn’t mean that the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider,” Ali stated.
He further added, “As our (PCB) chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan. If India doesn’t want to come, we’ll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India doesn’t want to participate, it doesn’t mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India.”
India’s last visit to Pakistan for a bilateral series was during the 2008 Asia Cup. Since then, the two teams have only faced each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup matches, with their last bilateral series held in India from December 2012 to January 2013.
If India does decide to skip the tournament, it could significantly impact the ICC’s revenue, as India is the most followed team in international cricket. Matches between India and Pakistan draw immense viewership and are among the most watched in the sport.
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