Pakistan is set to host the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, but organizers have already faced a significant setback. Reports suggest that India may not travel to Pakistan for the tournament due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries.
The ICC tournament is scheduled to commence on February 19, with the final set to take place on March 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The BCCI is reportedly planning to request the ICC to relocate their matches to either Sri Lanka or Dubai. In response to these reports, Pakistani cricketer Hasan Ali expressed his belief that the tournament will proceed even without India's participation.
Speaking on Samaa TV, he said, "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."
"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," he added.
India has not traveled to Pakistan for a bilateral series since the 2008 Asia Cup. The last series between both sides took place in India from December 2012 to January 2013. Since then, all their meetings have been limited to ICC tournaments and Asia Cup competitions.
If India were to not participate in the tournament, it could significantly impact ICC's revenue. India is the most followed team in international cricket, and their matches against Pakistan are among the most watched in the sport.
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