Former legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has responded to the news of India’s potential withdrawal from the Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host in February-March.
Mushtaq addressed the situation with straightforward pragmatism.
“It’s simple. If India wants to come, they can. If they don’t want to come, it doesn’t matter. There’s no point in making a fuss about it. This won’t make either party good or bad. This is the ICC’s event, and they will look into this matter, as they should,” Mushtaq said.
Pakistan is set to host its first major tournament since the 2008 Asia Cup and is making significant efforts to ensure the event’s success. However, India’s hesitation to travel for the Champions Trophy 2025 presents a substantial challenge for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The Indian team has not played in Pakistan since 2008 due to persistent security concerns, making their participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy uncertain.
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Reports indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a hybrid model, which would see Rohit Sharma and his team playing their matches in either Sri Lanka or the UAE.
This approach aims to address security concerns while still allowing India to participate in the tournament.
India’s potential withdrawal highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions and security issues affecting cricketing relations between the two countries.
As Mushtaq noted, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will need to address this matter to ensure the tournament’s success and maintain the integrity of international cricket competitions.
