Former India National Cricket Team player Aakash Chopra talked about the Indian team not traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has no role to play in it as it is all dependent on the Indian government.
Aakash Chopra’s comments came amid the reports which claimed that BCCI has told ICC that India won’t be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is all set to take place in Pakistan during February and March, but with Team India not keen to travel, there are chances of a hybrid model.
Several reports have claimed that ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan but all the India games will be played in Dubai. Although there has been no official confirmation, PCB hasn’t agreed to anything and is very confident of staging the entire tournament in their backyard.
In a way, they (Pakistan) have themselves to blame – Aakash Chopra
Reacting to reports of India not traveling for the Champions Trophy, Aakash Chopra mentioned that Pakistan has itself to blame, too. He talked about the security issues in the country and claimed that BCCI has nothing to do with Team India not traveling to Pakistan. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:
“It has been decided that India won’t go to Pakistan, and this is not the BCCI’s decision. Let’s make it very, very clear. India’s cricket team doesn’t decide where and when they will go when we talk about Pakistan. For the other places. It’s fine. However, if you are going to Pakistan, it’s not the BCCI’s but the Indian government’s decision,”
“They have communicated that they will not permit me to go there. So India is not going. In a way, they (Pakistan) have themselves to blame. Yesterday only I saw that there was a bomb blast in a railway station in Quetta, and then whatever Pakistan are involved in when we talk about India, especially Kashmir.”
Will have to make us play somewhere else, or else we can’t take part, but is that a possibility? – Aakash Chopra questions Pakistan
Further talking about the same, Aakash Chopra stressed the comments of both parties, saying that PCB needs to accept that India won’t be traveling to Pakistan. He also questioned whether the Champions Trophy would take place without India. He added:
“There are multiple permutations and combinations that what happens to the Champions Trophy. Pakistan has refused, saying that they don’t want a hybrid model at all, that no one told them India isn’t coming, and that they are prepared to host this in Pakistan. A reality check is needed at times,”
“I am not saying this to demean anyone or to show someone their place. I am just telling the truth. Accept it whether you like it or not because it’s the truth and it won’t change. The Indian team has said that they can’t travel for the Champions Trophy, you will have to make us play somewhere else, or else we can’t take part, but is that a po
Certainly, the Champions Trophy cannot happen without India – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra further made a bold statement, saying that the Champions Trophy cannot happen without India, and everyone knows that. He said that Pakistan, too, will be aware of this fact, and they need to prepare their people for that. He elaborated:
“Will the Champions Trophy happen if India doesn’t take part? It’s absolutely certain that the Champions Trophy cannot happen without India. All other teams understand that very well. I think Pakistan also understand. It’s just that they need to do posturing and appease the domestic audience a little.”
The schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is likely to come soon in the coming days. There have been reports that the governing body will be releasing the itinerary without the venues.
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