Shahid Afridi, the former captain of Pakistan, has also expressed his endorsement of the stance taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in refusing to accept the hybrid model for next year’s Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to happen in Pakistan. The veteran all-rounder, however, has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of ‘intertwining politics with sports’ and demanded the ICC to ‘uphold fairness and assert their authority’. The decision extraction of the marquee tournament schedule is set to be made within the ICC Board meeting to be held on Friday. The BCCI has told ICC that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament due to the Indian government’s disallowance. However, the PCB is denying the idea to host the entire tournament in Pakistan and therefore, the future of the Champions Trophy remains vague.
He said that they have gone to India five times since those attacks to play bilateral series. In these cases, they played tests and ODIs, with the latest being held earlier this year.
“By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed global cricket in a precarious situation,” Afridi said. “Totally supports PCB’s hard position against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (taking security into consideration) has gone to India five times, including one bilateral white-ball series, since the 26th of November. It’s time ICC and its Board of Directors brought fairness and assertion of rights,” Afridi wrote on Twitter.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB's stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
The Champions Trophy next year is slated to utilize three venues in Pakistan during February and March. However, in response to the travel ban from their government, India, which has not toured Pakistan since 2008, informed the ICC that they cannot travel to Pakistan for the event early this month.
The chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, has made it clear that the PCB has maintained its stance on hosting the Champions Trophy. It’s not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don’t come here, he said.
“Our stance is very clear. I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I am constantly in touch with the ICC chairman and my team is talking to them constantly. We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know ” Naqvi told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium during a press conference.
“We will make every effort to create an atmosphere most propitious to Pakistan,” Naqvi vowed numerous times. “But I repeat, and I am sure you know what I mean, it’s not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don’t come here,” he added.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be hosted across three venues in Pakistan over February and March next year. This has prompted India, which has not toured Pakistan since 2008, to inform the ICC that its government had not permitted them for travelling to Pakistan for the event early this month.
The chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, said that PCB remained “clear” in its position regarding hosting the Champions Trophy, and added that “it’s not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don’t come here”.
“Our stance is very clear. I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m constantly in touch with the ICC chairman and my team is talking to them constantly. We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know,” Naqvi said during a press conference held at the Gaddafi Stadium.
“I promise we’ll do what’s in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.” Number of times, Naqvi asserted, “But I repeat, and I am sure you know what I mean, it’s not possible that Pakistan play in India, and they don’t come here.”
