Related Articles
As the Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan over the tournament’s hosting plans. India has made it clear that they will not travel to Pakistan for the event, a decision that has sparked a strong reaction from former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad.
Table of content
Miandad Criticizes India’s Decision
In response to India’s firm stance, Miandad has called for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott all future matches with India. The legendary batsman expressed his frustration, labeling India’s decision as a “joke” and accusing them of undermining the spirit of the game.
“It is a joke that this is happening. Even if we don’t play India at all, Pakistan cricket will not only survive but prosper, as we have shown in the past,” Miandad told PTI. “I would like to see how the ICC events earn money when there are no Pakistan and India matches.”
India’s Hybrid Model Proposal Rejected by PCB
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed hosting the Champions Trophy in a hybrid model, similar to the Asia Cup 2023, where matches were split between Pakistan and a neutral venue. However, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi remains adamant that the entire tournament should be played in Pakistan. The disagreement has led to a standoff, with both sides holding firm on their positions.
India’s Reluctance to Tour Pakistan
India last toured Pakistan in 2008 during the Asia Cup, where they reached the finals but lost to Sri Lanka. Relations between the two cricketing nations worsened after the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, which led to a decade-long suspension of international cricket in Pakistan.
Since the resumption of cricket in Pakistan, top international teams like England and Australia have toured the country, but India has remained absent due to longstanding political tensions. The Indian government has been unwavering in its stance, refusing to permit the national team to travel to Pakistan.
The Financial Impact of an India-Pakistan Boycott
Miandad’s comments highlight the significant financial implications of an India-Pakistan cricket boycott. Matches between the two arch-rivals are among the most-watched events in cricket, generating substantial revenue for the International Cricket Council (ICC). Miandad believes that without India-Pakistan encounters, ICC events would lose a major source of viewership and revenue.
As the Champions Trophy 2025 draws nearer, the impasse between BCCI and PCB raises questions about the future of cricketing ties between the two nations. The ICC will need to navigate these diplomatic challenges to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament.
