Pakistan great bowler Shoaib Akhtar gave his take on the ongoing controversy surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy and said there is still a chance of India coming to play the tournament in Pakistan. Shoaib Akhtar said the BCCI and PCB will figure a way out. The confusion over the venue for the upcoming ICC Champion Trophy 2025 is continuing with hosts Pakistan firm on holding the entire tournament in their country while neighbors India have called for a ‘hybrid model’ with Team India matches as well as final to take place in Dubai.
The International Cricket Council cancelled an event to announce the schedule of the Champions Trophy due to doubts over the venue of the tournament. Neither India nor Pakistan are currently prepared to budge from their stand. On Tuesday, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar shared his views on the issue.
The Champions Trophy 2025 struggles to find a host
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is approaching, with less than 100 days to go, but the venue for the tournament remains uncertain amidst tussle between India and Pakistan. The event is officially scheduled to take place in Pakistan, but the BCCI’s recent decision to refuse to play in the country has cast doubt on the tournament’s future. While the BCCI’s stance was anticipated, their late confirmation has left the PCB frustrated. The situation has escalated into a battle of egos, with the PCB rejecting the BCCI’s proposed hybrid model.
The ICC is now faced with the challenge of finding a solution to the ongoing dispute between the BCCI and PCB. With time running out, it seems unlikely that both boards will get their way. The PCB, being the weaker board, may be forced to compromise and accept the BCCI’s demands. If a compromise is not reached, all stakeholders could face significant financial losses.
Meanwhile, pace great Shoaib Akhtar presented his take on the ongoing tussle and said there is still a chance for India to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Akhtar ruled out the possibility of India pulling out of the tournament citing sponsorship deals and said the BCCI and PCB will find a way out of the issue.
Shoaib Akhtar makes BIG statement on ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan’s legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his opinion on the matter. He believes that there is still a possibility of India participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Akhtar dismissed the idea of India withdrawing from the tournament due to sponsorship commitments and suggested that the BCCI and PCB will find a way to resolve the issue.
“There will be back channel talks. Even in days of war there is back channel talks. We should not lose hope. We have to look forward to a solution. We know a fact that 95-96 per cent of sponsorship for ICC comes from India,” Shoaib Akhtar said in an as quoted by NDTV.
“It’s really up to the governments. It’s nothing to do with the BCCI. Virat Kohli is trying to play in Pakistan for the first time. Pakistan wants to see Virat play in Pakistan. Imagine him scoring a century in Pakistan. It will be a full circle for him. Pakistan has got a tag that it cannot host big tournaments like World Cup.
If this (Champions Trophy) happens it will be a stepping stone for bigger events. I don’t think this will happen. Keeping the fingers crossed. Wait till the last moment. I think currently, as of now, India is coming to Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, media reports said that ICC is having ‘back-channel’ talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) trying to convince them to host the tournament in a ‘hybrid model’. Sources said that back channel talks are going on to make PCB understand why the hybrid model is the best way to go for the tournament and why there cannot be an ICC tournament without the Indian cricket team. The sources have also said that top ICC officials are trying to get Pakistan stop making any statements against India.
India, the 2017 finalists, will not be playing their matches in Pakistan and their matches will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said the source. PCB wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking reasons behind India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan to play the ICC Champions Trophy next year, Geo News reported.
India conveyed its stance of not travelling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, citing ‘security concerns’. According to reports, ICC could announce the schedule in the ongoing week. The schedule was set to be announced earlier this month but was delayed as ICC couldn’t find a solution to the controversy.