In an interview with Pakistan’s Samaa TV, Ali echoed the sentiment of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), asserting that if the Champions Trophy is set to be held in Pakistan, it will indeed take place there, and the tournament could go on without India.
“If we’re going there (to India) to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. A lot of people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics. But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So it doesn’t mean that the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider,” the medium-pacer said.
Indian Cricketers Pakistan aana Chahty Hain | Hassan Ali Ny Bari Baat kar Di | Zor Ka Jor | SamaaTV
Underlining that India’s absence may not stop Pakistan from hosting the tournament, he added: “As our chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan. If India don’t want to come, we’ll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India don’t want to participate, it doesn’t mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India.”
Reports suggest that the Indian cricket team may not travel to Pakistan for the tournament due to ongoing political tensions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering requesting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their matches to Sri Lanka or Dubai.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan between February and March 2025. India have not played a bilateral series in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup due to strained political relations. The last series between the two teams was hosted in India from December 2012 to January 2013. Since then, their encounters have been limited to ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.
Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, while India claimed the title in 2013, adding to their 2002 win when they shared the trophy with Sri Lanka.