Amid escalating tensions regarding the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and India’s uncertainty in travelling across the border, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has affirmed that all India players will be welcomed with open arms should they travel for the eight-team tournament.
“KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav are all welcome. All the players who will come, we will welcome them. This is not our decision, this is PCB’s decision,” said the 32-year-old Rizwan who recently took charge of the limited-overs side and led Pakistan to a 2-1 ODI series win over Australia.
“Whatever decision will take place, hopefully, they will all discuss and take the right call. But we are hopeful that if the Indian players will come, we will welcome them,” Rizwan said in a press conference for the T20I series against Australia.
However, former Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif was not as keen as Rizwan to host their rivals. Latif has urged Pakistan to not play any form of cricket against India, should they choose to not travel for the Champions Trophy. Despite the political tensions, Pakistan had travelled for the ODI World Cup in India last year.
“There’s a big possibility that Pakistan can stop playing cricket against India. Had I been in power, then, yes, I may have taken this strong step. I would not blame anyone for this. If you don’t want to play (in Pakistan), then don’t play against us (at all),” Latif told PTI Videos. “If I had been there, I would have taken this decision, and fought against the BCCI,” Latif added.
The CT 2025 situation
The Indian Express understands that the Pakistan government is learnt to have asked its cricket board not to give in to India’s demand of moving the Champions Trophy games to Dubai.
“We have been told by our government not to move any game out of Pakistan, and that will be our stand when the time comes. Right now, the ICC has just informed us about India’s decision. We have the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy so there is no way we can move the games outside Pakistan,” said a PCB official on condition of anonymity.
The eight-team Champions Trophy begins on February 19 with the final on March 9, with Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi being the designated host cities.
