Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded written confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the Indian government's stance on the Champions Trophy, scheduled for February-March 2023 in Pakistan. The PCB insists that the BCCI provide this documentation in case India refuses to participate due to security concerns.The PCB has emphasized the need for a prompt resolution, considering the tournament's proximity. While the ICC annual conference in Colombo on July 19 will not address the "Hybrid Model" (India playing matches in the UAE), the global body has allocated additional funds for a potential two-country tournament."If the Indian government declines permission, it must be in writing, and the BCCI is obligated to submit that letter to the ICC immediately," said a PCB source involved in the organizing committee. "We insist that the BCCI inform the ICC about its travel plans to Pakistan in writing at least 5-6 months before the tournament."The BCCI has consistently maintained that playing in Pakistan is a government decision. In the 2023 ODI Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan, India played all its matches in Sri Lanka under the "Hybrid Model."The PCB has submitted a draft schedule to the ICC, with all of India's matches, including a potential semi-final and final, scheduled in Lahore. The India-Pakistan match is set for March 1. The tournament begins in Karachi on February 19 and concludes in Lahore on March 9, with a reserve day on March 10. Rawalpindi will also host some matches.BCCI sources indicate that traveling to Pakistan is unlikely at this stage, and the ICC has allocated additional funds for contingency plans. "The ICC Management is recommending additional costs in case it becomes necessary to play matches outside Pakistan," a source confirmed.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his concerns over the safety of Indian players in Pakistan, casting doubt on India's participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in the country.During an appearance on a Pakistani TV show, Harbhajan stated, "If our players are not safe in Pakistan, we won't send the team. If you want to play, play; if not, then don't. Indian cricket can still survive without Pakistan. If you guys can survive without Indian cricket, do it."Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9 next year, marking the first major cricket event in the country since the 1996 World Cup. However, India's participation has been thrown into question due to security concerns.Earlier this week, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly indicated that it would request the ICC to adopt a hybrid model for the tournament, with matches potentially being played in Dubai or Sri Lanka.Pakistan has reportedly designated Lahore as the venue for all of India's matches for logistical convenience. However, Harbhajan's comments suggest that the safety of Indian players remains a paramount concern.India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, and the two nations have only faced each other in multi-team events since then. The last time India played a match in Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup.The Champions Trophy is an eight-nation tournament that will feature some of the world's top cricket teams. Pakistan emerged as champions in the 2017 edition, defeating India in the final at The Oval in London.The ICC is expected to make a decision on the venue and format of the 2025 Champions Trophy in the coming months.

Former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi has extended an invitation to Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli, expressing that he would be met with immense love and admiration if he visited Pakistan. Afridi's comments come amidst reports of India's hesitation to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.Afridi urged the Indian team to prioritize cricket over political tensions and visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He emphasized that cricket tours should be kept separate from politics, as the rivalry between India and Pakistan on the field is unparalleled."I welcome the Indian team (in Pakistan) and they should come. We've always received huge respect and love in our tours of India. In the same way, the Indian team also received love and respect during their tour in 2005. Cricket tours should be kept aside from politics. There is no big politics than India and Pakistan playing against each other in their countries," Afridi stated.Afridi expressed his admiration for Kohli, calling him his favorite player and praising his exceptional talent. He believes that Kohli would be overwhelmed by the love he would receive in Pakistan, surpassing the affection he has experienced in India."Virat will forget the love he has received in India when he would play in Pakistan. He has a huge craze in Pakistan and our people like him very much. In fact, he is my favorite player. He has his own class and he shouldn't have retired from T20Is as because of him T20I looked beautiful," Afridi said.Regarding the future of Indian cricket, Afridi identified Shubman Gill as a potential successor to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He attributed the emergence of young talent to the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has created a vast pool of players.Afridi also emphasized the importance of stability in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) administration. He believes that the PCB Chairman should be appointed for an extended tenure to ensure continuity and allow the Pakistan captain to remain in his post for a longer period."Chairman should at least get three years so that Pakistan captain can remain for 2-3 years at his post. With the change of chairman, other things should not be affected. If we work on the basis of merit, the results will come," Afridi concluded.

Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has highlighted the crucial task facing newly appointed Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir: ensuring a seamless transition after the 2025 Champions Trophy. With Indian captain Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli approaching the twilight of their careers, Chopra believes Gambhir must determine their future roles in the ODI setup leading up to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.Gambhir, who officially took over from Rahul Dravid after India's triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, inherits a legacy of success left by his predecessor. Chopra emphasized the importance of maintaining and building upon this legacy, particularly in the 50-over format."ODI cricket will be a 50-50 situation," Chopra said. "What happens after the Champions Trophy? The next World Cup is in 2027, so the transition will start after the Champions Trophy itself. He will have to figure it out."Chopra acknowledged the delicate balance Gambhir must strike between phasing out the experienced players and nurturing the next generation. However, he noted that the retirements of Kohli, Rohit, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket have eased some of the pressure on Gambhir in the shortest format."India have reached the finals of the last three ICC events," Chopra said. "Dravid has left behind a fantastic legacy. Rohit Sharma also wrote a huge post about that legacy. Maintaining and taking the legacy forward will be a challenging task (for Gambhir)."Gambhir's first assignment as India coach will be a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in late July. The series will provide an early indication of his approach and the direction he intends to take the team.

India Unlikely to Tour Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy, BCCI to Request ICC for Alternative VenueThe Indian cricket team is highly unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, according to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI is expected to approach the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a request to host the matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka instead.India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, and the two nations have only faced each other in multi-team tournaments since then. Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2022, but India was allowed to play all their matches in Sri Lanka under a "hybrid model" arrangement. India cited a lack of government clearance for their decision not to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.The eight-nation Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. It will be the first major cricket event hosted by Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.The BCCI's decision is based on security concerns and the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. The two countries have a long history of conflict, and there have been several terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent years.The ICC is yet to make a decision on the BCCI's request, but it is likely to consider the security concerns and the precedent set by the Asia Cup. If the ICC agrees to the BCCI's request, it will be a major blow to Pakistan's hopes of hosting a successful Champions Trophy.

David Warner, the former Australian opener, has hinted at a potential return to international cricket for the Champions Trophy next year, despite announcing his retirement from all formats over the past year.Warner retired from Test cricket in January 2023, followed by his ODI retirement after the 2023 World Cup. However, he has consistently expressed his willingness to play in the Champions Trophy if selected.In a recent Instagram post, Warner reiterated his availability for the tournament, which will be held in Pakistan from February to March 2024. "I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for [Australia] in the Champions Trophy if selected," he wrote.Despite Warner's desire to return, it remains unlikely given his absence from Australia's upcoming matches leading up to the tournament. The team will tour England for ODIs in September and face Pakistan in November, where Jake Fraser-McGurk is expected to be a frontrunner for the opening spot.Australian captain Pat Cummins has previously expressed reservations about Warner's return for the Champions Trophy, suggesting that it would be an "emergency option." However, he acknowledged Warner's continued ability to score runs and left the door open for a potential recall.Warner's ODI career ended with an impressive tally of 6932 runs at an average of 45.30, including 22 centuries. He is second only to Ricky Ponting in Australia's all-time ODI run-scoring list.In his Instagram post, Warner expressed gratitude for his international career and the support of his family and fans. "It's been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period," he wrote. "Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level. It's been an honour to be able to do this."Warner's future plans include playing in Canada's GT20 and a T10 tournament in the Cayman Islands. He is also expected to return to the Sydney Thunder for the BBL and has a deal with Dubai Capitals in the ILT20.

Rohit Sharma to Lead India in Champions Trophy and World Test ChampionshipBCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will continue as India's captain for two major tournaments in 2024: the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London.Shah expressed confidence in Sharma's leadership, stating, "I am confident that under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, we will win the WTC Final and Champions Trophy."Sharma, who recently retired from T20Is after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup, will turn 38 in April 2024. Despite his age, Shah believes he is the right man to lead India to success.In a video message, Shah congratulated the Indian team on their T20 World Cup triumph and dedicated the victory to Sharma, Virat Kohli, outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid, and Ravindra Jadeja.Shah highlighted the importance of the final five overs of South Africa's innings, crediting Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya for their contributions."Now, our next target is the WTC final and the Champions Trophy," Shah declared.It was Shah who had previously announced in February that Sharma would lead India in the 2024 T20 World Cup, predicting that India would win the championship.

Pakistan's 2024-25 home season promises to be a spectacle, with the prestigious Champions Trophy taking center stage. However, the participation of neighboring India remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the tournament's allure.India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, and the two archrivals have only faced each other in multi-team events. Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year, but India, the eventual champions, played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a "hybrid model." India cited a lack of government clearance for their absence in Pakistan.The PCB has announced a packed home schedule, including Test series against Bangladesh, England, and West Indies. A 50-over tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa is also scheduled for February 2025.The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held from February 19 to March 5. The PCB has stated that the tournament's dates and venues will be confirmed by the ICC in due course.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the significance of hosting five elite cricket nations and several other teams over the next eight months. "We deeply value the participation of these teams and players, who will bring immense talent and competitive spirit to our fields," he said.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet commented on India's participation in the Champions Trophy. However, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla recently stated that they would only participate with government approval.Pakistan won the last Champions Trophy in 2017, which was held in England. The tournament is being revived by the ICC to ensure a major event is hosted every year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed a high-profile Champions Trophy encounter between Pakistan and India to be held in Lahore on March 1, 2023. The proposal has been submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC), but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to approve the schedule.The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with March 10 designated as a Reserve Day. The PCB has submitted a schedule consisting of 15 matches, with all of India's games allocated to Lahore due to security and logistical considerations."The PCB has submitted the draft of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven games in Lahore, three in Karachi, and five in Rawalpindi," an ICC Board member said. "The opening match will be held in Karachi with two semifinals in Karachi and Rawalpindi, final in Lahore. All India matches (including semifinal, if the team qualifies) in Lahore," the source added.India find themselves in Group A, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Group B features Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan.The ICC has held a meeting with the PCB to discuss the proposed schedule and security arrangements. The ICC's security team has conducted a comprehensive inspection of the venues and other arrangements.Pakistan's most recent experience hosting a major cricketing event was the Asia Cup in 2023. The tournament was conducted using a unique 'Hybrid Model' due to the Indian government's refusal to allow its players to travel across the border into Pakistan. As a result, India's matches were played in Sri Lanka, while the rest of the tournament took place in Pakistan.The ICC finds itself in a challenging position, as it lacks the authority to compel any cricket board to act in opposition to its government's directives. The BCCI is faced with a complex decision, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits its final stance on the issue.