Hasan Ali reacts to reports that India may skip ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. (Picture Credit: ANI and X/@ICC)
The 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, with Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi shortlisted to host the matches.
Pakistan will host the 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. The eight-team tournament is scheduled to start on February 19 in Karachi, and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the final on March 9. A total of three venues in Pakistan are shortlisted to host the matches of the tournament, which was last played in 2017. However, there are high chances that the ICC event will move out of Pakistan if India doesn’t agree to travel to the neighbouring country.
Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates are said to be leading the race as back-up venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Reacting to the news of India not travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, star Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali has said that if the ICC tournament is set to be held in Pakistan, then it will take place there and the tournament can go ahead without India’s participation.
“If we’re going there (to India) to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. A lot of people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics. 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 that the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider,” Hasan said on Samaa TV.
“As our (PCB) chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan. If India doesn’t want to come, we’ll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India doesn’t want to participate, it doesn’t mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India,” he added.
India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008
India, which also refused to travel to Pakistan last year for the Asia Cup 2023 matches, last played in Pakistan during the 2008 Asia Cup matches. In the last 16 years, only once (in 2012–2013) have the two arch-rivals faced each other in a bilateral series, and Pakistan has twice travelled to India to take part in ICC events.