LAHORE: Fast bowler Hasan Ali has made a big statement regarding India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan next year from February to March.
The PCB stands firm on its stand to host all Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the country despite rumors of a neutral venue or Plan B. It has been announced that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan and play their matches at a neutral venue. .
Hasan, who was a player in the Tournament of Champions Trophy 2017, stated that if India does not come to Pakistan, we will host the event without them.
“If we go there (India) to play, then they should also come to Pakistan. Many people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics,” Hasan said in an interview on a local channel.
“But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So it doesn’t mean the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But of course, they have their own policies, country and board that must be considered.
“As our chairman [PCB] has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, it will be held in Pakistan. If India don’t want to come, we will play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan and if India doesn’t want to participate it doesn’t mean cricket is over. Apart from India, there are many other teams,” he added.
Three venues – Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore – will host eight-match matches and as per the PCB’s proposed ICC plan, all India’s matches will be held in Lahore.
Apart from India, all the eight teams that will be participating in the Champions Trophy have played in Pakistan before and the PCB believes that India has no good reason not to come here.
The proposed dates for the Champions Trophy are from 19 February to 9 March.
The event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, last won in 2017 when Pakistan defeated India in the final.
