The Pakistan Cricket Board has been preparing for the Champions Trophy for the past several months (Photo AFP).
Things have intensified between Pakistan and India over the Champions Trophy. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that India has decided not to come to Pakistan for the next year’s Champions Trophy.
In this regard, the news was also circulating in the Indian media, but now the ICC has officially informed the Pakistan Cricket Board, after which the PCB also contacted the Government of Pakistan. According to media reports, the Pakistan government has expressed the possibility of taking tough decisions while taking a stand on India’s decision.
According to government sources, if India does not come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, Pakistan will not play cricket with India until the relations between Pakistan and India are fixed.
Referring to the arrival of various international teams to Pakistan in the past, government sources have said that Pakistan has completed all preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy, while earlier all the teams have come to Pakistan and are still ready to come. Why India will not come?
Apart from this, Pakistani media reports citing government sources have stated that the ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and no hybrid model will be accepted for it. It is being told that in response to India’s ‘stubbornness’, the Pakistan government may take a decision not to participate in all events, including the T20 World Cup 2026.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has been preparing for the Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9 next year. In this regard, development works are also going on in Gaddafi Stadium.
If the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board can earn substantial capital, however, due to the hybrid model, the revenue earned from the tournament is likely to be affected due to the absence of India.
In this regard, sports journalist Osama Ghori has told Urdu News that India has been making excuses based on security issues for a long time. According to him, India has no justification this time because for the past several years, many series including PSL have been organized in Pakistan in which players and teams of international cricket teams have participated. Thus, there is no security problem, but India is not backing down from its politics.’
Government sources say that Pakistan has always made a good impression by sending its team to India, but India has played the politics card in response. “Stadiums are being built and security is also good, so now India has no reason not to come.”
According to official sources, it is further being told that Pakistan will not back down on Champions Trophy and if India does not come, Pakistan government can take dangerous decisions.
According to government sources, if India does not come to Pakistan, Pakistan will lose revenue, but when Pakistan does not play a match with India, both sides may suffer.
According to Osama Ghori, “Pakistan has decided to answer brick with stone and it is somewhat better because the world has changed now the whole world is recognizing Pakistan in the field of sports but India because of its ego.” Unable to recognize Pakistan.’
Senior Sports Journalist Sohail Imran has talked to Urdu News in this regard. According to him, the earlier decisions were according to the situation at that time, but this time things are completely different. Now it depends on the government how far it can go. What we have been told is that the government is thinking of going to all lengths.’
Eight Champions Trophy tournaments have been held so far. The first Champions Trophy was held in 1998 which was hosted by Bangladesh while South Africa took the title.
The Champions Trophy was last held in England in 2017, the final of which was won by Pakistan against India. So far, England has hosted the Champions Trophy three times while Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, South Africa and India have hosted the Champions Trophy only once, while the defending champion Pakistan is going to host the tournament for the first time.
However, India’s decision not to play in Pakistan remains intact.
Sohail Imran explains that ‘Pakistan has now started to show how far it can go, but it is not an easy situation.’
According to him, all eyes are now on the ICC in this matter. ‘Because this event has been allotted by ICC to Pakistan and it is the job of ICC to ensure the participation of all teams in it.’
