After Saqlain Mushtaq, another Pakistan legend, Inzamam-ul-Haq, has been left fuming at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid the ongoing controversy in the Champions Trophy. Inzamam-Ul-Haq urged other boards to unite in boycotting the Indian Premier League (IPL).After almost thirty years, Pakistan welcomed the return of an ICC event, and it will host the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The ICC event is being hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is set to end on March 9. However, the first semi-final will not be held at PCB. If India advances to the top battle, the final will also be moved outside of Pakistan. If India qualifies, the semi-final and final would also take place in Dubai, where they are currently playing their matches.
ICC and Champions Trophy 2025 faces brunt from former cricketers especially for scheduling of Team India matches
BCCI is currently in the midst of a controversy that England greats Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton sparked. The two claimed that the Indian team was handed an undeniable advantage over playing all their games at just one venue—Dubai.
Team India has played all its matches in the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium, which is why one of the semi-final matches has also been scheduled there. If India makes it to the final, the venue for the championship match will remain in Dubai. Meanwhile, Pakistan has already been eliminated from the tournament, which has once again fueled debates about BCCI’s influence in world cricket.
Notably, the Indian government did not give clearance to the Rohit Sharma-led side to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to political tensions and security concerns, leaving ICC to schedule all their matches in Dubai. Amid the controversy, Inzamam called for a global boycott of the IPL. He reminded other boards that India does not allow their players to participate in overseas leagues, but players from foreign countries do play the IPL.
Inzamam-ul-Haq makes big remark against BCCI and Team India after Pakistan’s embarrassing exit from Champions Trophy 2025
Former Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has called on the cricketing boards to band together against India in the face of the BCCI’s dominance in international cricket.
The IPL is the most prestigious T20 league in the world, attracting top international cricketers every year. Some foreign players have even prioritized IPL over their national team commitments. Unlike other leagues, the BCCI does not allow Indian players to participate in foreign T20 leagues while they are active. Only retired Indian cricketers, who are no longer part of the IPL, are allowed to play in overseas leagues.
Pakistani cricketers are banned from participating in the IPL. However, in the inaugural edition of IPL (2008), several Pakistani players were part of the league. Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, IPL authorities imposed a complete ban on Pakistani players, which remains in effect to this day.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has expressed his frustration over India’s dominance and has called on cricket boards worldwide to stop sending their players to the IPL.
“Keep aside the Champions Trophy. Top players participate in IPL but Indian players don’t participate in other leagues. Other boards should stop sending their players to IPL. If you (BCCI) don’t release your players for leagues, then other boards should take a stance,” Inzamam-ul-Haq said speaking on a Pakistani TV channel.
It is contractually not allowed for any Indian player under the BCCI to play in overseas leagues unless the cricketer announces retirement from Indian cricket, which includes the IPL and domestic tournaments. These participants will no longer be allowed to return to BCCI-hosted events.