Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has expressed hope that India will participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Speaking in a recent interview, Akhtar highlighted the potential for back-channel talks to resolve tensions between the two cricket boards.
Akhtar emphasized India’s pivotal role in global cricket, noting, “India generates 95-96% of ICC sponsorship, allowing them to influence decisions.” He added that resolving the impasse depends on the governments of both nations rather than just the cricket boards.
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Reflecting on the significance of the event, Akhtar said hosting the Champions Trophy in Pakistan could pave the way for larger tournaments. He also envisioned an iconic moment, imagining Virat Kohli scoring a century on Pakistani soil.
The PCB remains firm in its stance against a hybrid model for the tournament and has garnered support from other cricket boards. With Pakistan’s detailed security plan facing no objections from ICC members, the PCB believes India has no grounds to oppose the event on security concerns.
