NEW DELHI: The ongoing tension over the Champions Trophy remains one of the long-standing complexities in India-Pakistan cricket relations.
Recently, Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad openly criticized India’s stance on the upcoming tournament, voicing frustration over what he sees as India’s ‘false promises.’
He pointed out that while Pakistan gives credit to India when they perform well on the field, their hesitance to play in Pakistan appears to be driven by more than just cricket concerns.
“Pakistan now needs to step forward and clarify its stance. We’ve known for a long time that India are making false promises. Whenever they play well, we praise them because they deserve it. But when it comes to this issue (coming to Pakistan), India have been lying for a long time. Even before, whenever Pakistan would try to do something like this (hosting a mega event), India would try to financially damage it,” said Ahmad Shahzad on the Pakistani channel Geo News.
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“And this time, they’ve crossed the line. Pakistan need to take a strong stance. If India don’t want to come, let them stay away—enough is enough!” added a frustrated Shahzad.
In response to India’s refusal to play in Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly preparing to challenge this decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
According to the Dawn newspaper, the PCB plans to question the International Cricket Council (ICC) to understand the rationale behind BCCI’s stance.
While a hybrid model, allowing India to play in a neutral venue, was proposed, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly opposed this arrangement.
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The ICC now faces the difficult task of finding a solution, with options including moving the tournament out of Pakistan entirely, potentially to South Africa or the UAE.
Some reports, however, have also suggested that Pakistan might consider withdrawing from the Champions Trophy if hosting rights are removed—a decision that would mark a significant escalation in the dispute.