Legendary Indian National Cricket Team player Harbhajan Singh has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to put its ego aside and accept the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Harbhajan Singh said that anyway, the Indian national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team play very few matches against each other and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash should be played in the UAE.
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India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy
The Indian government has denied permission to send the Indian national cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 over security concerns.
This led to India demanding a hybrid model for the competition, as the Men in Blue would play all their matches in the UAE. PCB was hesitant to accept the hybrid model and wanted to host the entire competition at home.
However, latest reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board has softened its stance.
During a recent meeting between the BCCI and PCB officials, the PCB proposed a “Partnership or Merger Formula” under which teams of both nations would play their matches at a neutral venue, Dubai, for all organized ICC events. by any of the countries in the next three years, Cricket Pakistan reported.
However, reports claim that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has raised an objection over this new formula despite previously showing interest.
There is a concern about security and I have been saying it since 2022 – Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh has said that there is definitely a security concern for the Indian national cricket team and that they should not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The former player ordered Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials to keep their egos aside and accept the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy. Harbhajan Singh said that no player would have any problem playing the India vs Pakistan matches in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
“Ask all the players, they would say they are ready to play in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. In any case, we don’t see too many Indo-Pak games as such, and Pakistan should put their ego aside and embrace the ‘Hybrid’. Model ‘” the legendary Indian national cricket team player said, quoted by PTI.
“There is a concern about security and I have been saying it since 2022,” he added.
I don’t think 38 is old – Harbhajan Singh on Ravichandran Ashwin
Washington Sundar was selected over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth Test against Australia despite his limited experience in Test cricket.
Talking about this, Harbhajan Singh said that the young bowling all-rounder has shown the ability to fill Ravichandran Ashwin’s shoes and playing over the veterans is a bold move.
“Washington showed during the New Zealand series that he is ready to take over from Ashwin in the coming days,” the bowling great said.
Harbhajan Singh also made it clear that he does not consider 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin to be too old and the age factor is not the only reason he was benched. He said:
“I don’t think 38 is old. He’s not 58. But yes, after so many years, shoulders experience fatigue and wear, so the zipper may be a little smaller.”