Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has supported the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in rejecting the hybrid model proposed for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to be hosted in Pakistan. The legendary all-rounder criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for “mixing politics with sports” and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to “ensure impartiality and assert its authority.”
The ICC Board will convene on Friday to finalize the tournament’s arrangements. The BCCI has informed the ICC that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan, citing restrictions from the Indian government. Meanwhile, the PCB remains steadfast in hosting the event entirely in Pakistan, leaving the tournament’s fate hanging in the balance. Afridi further highlighted that Pakistan has toured India five times since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which strained bilateral relations.
“By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball series, post-26/11. It’s time for the ICC and its Board of Directors to uphold fairness and assert their authority,” Afridi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB's stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
The ICC Champions Trophy is slated to be held across three venues in Pakistan during February and March next year. However, India, who last toured Pakistan in 2008, recently informed the ICC that their government has not authorized the team to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Pakistan is set to host the first ICC tournament since the 1996 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi reconfirmed the PCB’s clear position on hosting the Champions Trophy., emphasizing that “it is unacceptable for Pakistan to play in India while they refuse to visit Pakistan.”
While addressing to media Naqvi stated, “Our stance is very clear. I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m constantly in touch with the ICC chairman and my team is talking to them constantly. We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen based on equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know.”
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
