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Ex-Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding India's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted by Pakistan. Latif believes that irrespective of the venue, the two nations are bound to face each other due to the significance and broader implications tied to their rivalry.
India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, largely due to strained relations between the governments. With Pakistan designated as the host for the 2025 tournament, discussions have intensified about India’s involvement. Reports also suggest that a ‘hybrid model’ might be implemented, allowing matches involving the 2017 runners-up to be played outside Pakistan.
"As for the new scenario, political narratives keep getting made. See, both teams will certainly play. I don’t know where, but both teams will surely play against each other. There are a lot of things at stake. Broadcasters have a lot at stake. There’s some 3 billion at stake. So, there’s no way they will say that it’s ok for India and Pakistan to not play against each other," Latif told Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, as quoted by Cricblog.
He said that according to him, the two respective administrative bodies along with the ICC will end up making sure that the competition gets conducted anyhow.
"I feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board will also somehow agree and come to a conclusion on where to play and what to do. This is because the cricketing world depends on it. The cricketing world depends on the India-Pakistan match. So in my opinion, it will happen. I don’t know where but the PCB, BCCI and ICC will surely plan something. Other people can make a fool out of the audience, but they will certainly play," the former cricketer added.
Latif further elaborated that after all, the tournament was of a global and esteemed stature, and that it has been designed the same way for each and every participant.
"See, in bilateral games and tournaments like the Asia Cup, it’s all ok if India or Pakistan don’t participate, but this is an ICC tournament and everyone has to play. This opportunity has come after a long time. I mean, after a long time, India has to come to Pakistan to play an ICC tournament. This has been approved from all the cricket boards in the world, the ICC, all the authorities including India are included," the Karachi-born added.
The upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 will be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan after the 1996 World Cup.
