Former Pakistan national cricket team pacer Shoaib Akhtar made a massive statement ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that Virat Kohli and team India would be dying to play in Pakistan but their government will not allow them.
The Indian national cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan fans’ dream of seeing Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and other Indian stars play in Pakistan will remain a dream as The Indian government did it. I do not agree to send the equipment to Pakistan for security reasons.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) went all out to bring India to their own country for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tried its best to bring the Indian National Cricket Team to their own country. But this did not work out as despite their best efforts, the BCCI did not agree to travel and hence the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to be played in a hybrid model.
The ICC, PCB and BCCI recently participated in the meeting. It is learned that the host nation agreed to play the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid model, but set two conditions for accepting it. They want a larger share of ICC’s revenue and also want all events scheduled in India until 2031 to be played in a hybrid model.
BCCI denies PCB’s demands to accept hybrid model
Recent reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board maintained demands before the BCCI and ICC to accept the hybrid model were rejected by the Indian body.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon announce the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will most likely be played in the hybrid model. According to this, all of India’s matches, along with a semi-final and the final, will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while the rest of the matches will be played in Pakistan.
Virat Kohli would probably die to play for Pakistan – Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, while talking about India not traveling to Pakistan, stated that Virat Kohli, along with the BCCI, would be more than eager to play in Pakistan. He said that if the BCCI plays in their country, then their television rights sponsorships will skyrocket. Speaking to a television channel, he explained:
“India is dying more than Pakistan to play in Pakistan. Virat Kohli would probably be dying to play in Pakistan. I know what is happening. If India vs Pakistan lands, TV rights sponsorships will skyrocket. Let me tell you “They are not coming because of the government.”
An Indian team that included big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, playing in Pakistan would have been a big boost for the Pakistan national cricket team. Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah and others have played in all parts of the world but not in Pakistan. It remains to be seen if they ever play in the country or not.
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