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Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali recently expressed his thoughts on India‘s uncertainty about their participation in the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in February-March next year. The uncertainty stems from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) hesitation to send the team to Pakistan without the Indian government’s approval.
BCCI’s uncertainty and Hasan Ali’s strong reaction
The BCCI has reportedly proposed a Hybrid Model to the International Cricket Council (ICC), suggesting that India’s matches be hosted either in Sri Lanka or Dubai. This suggestion follows last year’s Asia Cup format, where Pakistan hosted the tournament, but India played all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions. Speaking on Samaa TV, Hasan emphasized that the Champions Trophy should be played in Pakistan, regardless of India’s participation. He asserted that cricket would not end if India chose not to participate.
“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,” Hasan said.
Also READ: Pakistan Cricket Board chief issues a firm warning to ICC over Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights
Historical context and political tensions
India have not played a bilateral series in Pakistan since the Asia Cup 2008 due to strained political relations. The last series between the two teams was hosted in India from December 2012 to January 2013. Since then, their encounters have been limited to ICC tournaments and Asia Cups. Despite these challenges, Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, while India claimed the title in 2013 and shared the trophy with Sri Lanka in 2002.
The latest face-off between the two arch-rivals was during the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, where India secured a narrow seven-run victory over Pakistan at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. The political tension between the two countries continues to affect their cricketing ties, making the situation for the Champions Trophy complex.
