Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi believes it is time to prioritize cricket and let the game convey everybody collectively. This comes after the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) knowledgeable the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the Indian cricket workforce would not be touring to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Afridi took to X, previously generally known as Twitter, to share his ideas.
“Cricket is at a vital crossroads, dealing with maybe certainly one of its biggest challenges because the late 1970s. Now’s the time to place variations apart and let the sport unite us. If nations as soon as divided by historical past can come collectively within the Olympic spirit, why can’t we do the identical for cricket – and for the Champions Trophy?”
Afridi continued by emphasizing the duty of these concerned within the sport.
“As stewards of this sport, we owe it to cricket to maintain egos in examine and deal with its development and spirit. I hope to see each workforce in Pakistan for CT25, to expertise our heat and hospitality, and to go away with unforgettable reminiscences that transcend the sphere.”
The PCB confirmed on Sunday that India had communicated its resolution to the ICC, stating their unwillingness to take part within the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for February-March of the next yr in Pakistan.
“The PCB has acquired an e-mail from the ICC, stating that the BCCI has knowledgeable them that their workforce is not going to journey to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”
Previous to this, the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) had conveyed to the ICC about India’s incapability to journey to Pakistan. This left the PCB with the choice of organizing the Champions Trophy utilizing a ‘Hybrid Mannequin‘. Nevertheless, PCB Administration Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf had beforehand acknowledged that the ‘Hybrid Mannequin’ was not acceptable to Pakistan.
This improvement continues a pattern of India not sending its cricket workforce to Pakistan. The final time the Indian workforce visited Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup below the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Pakistan, alternatively, has toured India for a limited-overs bilateral sequence in 2012-13, the T20 World Cup in 2016, and the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
As beforehand reported, India’s matches, together with the extremely anticipated India-Pakistan match, will now be held in Dubai, UAE.
“That is an ICC occasion and BCCI has knowledgeable the worldwide physique that it will not journey to Pakistan. It’ll rely upon ICC to tell the host nation in regards to the improvement after which shut in on the scheduling of the event. The conference is to announce the schedule 100 days previous to the graduation of the occasion,” a BCCI supply had advised PTI on circumstances of anonymity a couple of days again.
This example mirrors final yr’s Asia Cup, initially slated to be hosted by Pakistan. Attributable to India’s refusal to tour the nation, the event was finally held utilizing a ‘Hybrid Mannequin’.
