Shoaib Akhtar has now claimed that the BCCI and Virat Kohli want to play in Pakistan, as the TV and sponsorship rights would go off the roof if it happens. Former Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar made an outlandish claim that India and Virat Kohli are dying to come to Pakistan and play cricket there, but the government is not allowing them.
Former Pakistan National Cricket Team pacer Shoaib Akhtar came up with a massive statement ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that Virat Kohli and Team India would be dying to play in Pakistan but their government won’t allow them .The BCCI’s decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy has put the PCB in a tough spot. Several former Pakistan cricketers have expressed their frustration over the BCCI’s decision.
India National Cricket Team won’t be travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The dream of Pakistan fans to see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and other Indian stars play in Pakistan will remain a dream as the Indian government didn’t agree to send the team to Pakistan due to security reasons.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) trying its best to bring India to their own country for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave its best to bring India National Cricket Team to their own country. But this didn’t work as despite their strong efforts, BCCI didn’t agree to travel, and hence, it is expected that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in a Hybrid model.
The ICC, PCB, and BCCI were involved in the meeting recently. It was learned that the hosting nation has agreed to play the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid model but they have put in two conditions to accept it. They want a greater share of the ICC revenue and also want all events that are slated in India till 2031 to be played in a Hybrid model.
BCCI denies demands of PCB to accept hybrid model
The recent reports of the Pakistan Cricket Board keeping demands in front of BCCI and ICC to accept the hybrid model were rejected by the Indian body.
The BCCI has officially sent a letter to the ICC stating that it won’t send the Indian team to Pakistan and asking them to adopt the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. However, PCB was adamant about hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan but eventually gave it after they were reportedly left on the verge of losing hosting rights.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) soon will be announcing the schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will most likely be played in the Hybrid model. As per that, all the India games, along with one semi-final and the final, will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while the rest of the matches will be played in Pakistan.
Shoaib Akhtar has now claimed that the BCCI and Virat Kohli want to play in Pakistan, as the TV and sponsorship rights would go off the roof if it happens.
Shoaib Akhtar drops ‘Virat Kohli, India will be dying’ bombshell on Pakistan visit amidst 2025 Champions Trophy scheduling stand-off
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes India and their talisman Virat Kohli will be more desperate to play in Pakistan than the hosts themselves for television and sponsorship reasons. Akhtar’s remarks came amidst the boiling tension between the two cricketing nations on the scheduling of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
While Pakistan is set to host the tournament, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed India’s refusal to travel, citing security reasons. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded by rejecting India’s proposal for a hybrid model.
However, they finally gave in and accepted the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy with the condition that a similar model be used for all ICC events in India until 2031.
Speaking on a local channel regarding the ongoing debacle, Akhtar said:
“India is dying more than Pakistan to play in Pakistan; Virat Kohli would probably be dying to play in Pakistan. I had worked in India with the BCCI, if India land in Pakistan to play, their TV rights and sponsorship are gonna go off the roof.”
When asked by another former Pakistan cricketer, Mohammad Hafeez on their reason for India not traveling, given the above benefits, Akhtar responded:
“Their government doesn’t want them to come.”
India haven’t played an international game in Pakistan since the 50-over Asia Cup in 2008. Their last full tour of Pakistan (bilateral ODI and Test series) dates further back to 2005/06.
“The hybrid model had already been signed earlier” – Shoaib Akhtar
Earlier in the week, Shoaib Akhtar made another staggering claim, stating the hybrid model, which Pakistan have eventually accepted with the other caveats, had already been signed before official confirmation.
A similar model was used for the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, where India played their games in Sri Lanka. In the case of the 2025 Champions Trophy, India will likely play their matches in UAE should the hybrid model be confirmed.
Akhtar told a local news channel:
“In terms of playing in India in the future, we should extend a hand of friendship and go there. My belief has always been: go to India and defeat them there—India mein khelo aur wahi unhe maarke aao (play in India and beat them on their home ground). I understand that the hybrid model had already been signed earlier.”
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012-13, when the Men in Green toured India for two T20Is and three ODIs. Yet, the two teams have since met at neutral venues in several multi-national tournaments.