After witnessing a successful edition of the T20 World Cup 2024, the entire cricket world is now preparing for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The prestigious trophy is coming back and is set to take place in Pakistan. In that case, teams will travel to the nation. After 2006, Team India will travel to their neighboring nation. Afridi hopes India will visit Pakistan to strengthen cricketing ties and give fans the chance to see Virat Kohli in action.
Afridi’s Urge to India and Virat Kohli:
After 2017, the prestigious Champions Trophy is coming back to the cricket world. This time, Pakistan is arranging the tournament. After a long time, the cricket-playing nation is arranging an ICC event. India and Pakistan haven’t played bilateral cricket since 2013. Pakistan visited India for the last year’s 50-overs World Cup, raising hopes for reciprocal visits.
Virat Kohli has played worldwide for India but never in Pakistan. The idea of him playing there is thrilling for his fans across the border, who eagerly await the chance to see him in action on Pakistani soil. Afridi hopes India visits Pakistan to strengthen cricketing relations and allow fans in his country to see Virat Kohli play firsthand.
Afridi said, “I will welcome Team India. Even when Pakistan used to tour, we received a lot of respect and love from India, and when India came in 2005-06, all their players enjoyed. There is no better advent of peace than India and Pakistan going to each other’s country and playing cricket. If Virat Kohli comes to Pakistan, he’ll forget the love and hospitality of India. He has his own class.”
Afridi on Kohli’s T20I Retirement:
After Team India lifted the T20 World Cup in Barbados, Virat Kohli hung his boots from T20s for India. He was one of the finest batters of the format. In this edition of the World Cup, Kohli struggled with the bat throughout the tournament but played a match-winning knock of 76 runs in the final match. Shahid Afridi thinks Kohli should have kept playing T20Is for India.
He said, “He shouldn’t have quit T20Is because the format looked beautiful with him in it. Why can’t he play? He is fit; he is in form. More than anything else, with him around the new guys would have found a lot more success. You cannot bring all youngsters together; you need a combination of seniors and juniors. What Virat can teach them, I don’t think anyone else can.”
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
