Former Pakistan cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq has made his stance clear regarding India’s potential decision not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Amid ongoing speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not send the Indian team to Pakistan, Mushtaq emphasized a straightforward approach.
“If India wants to come, they can. If they don’t want to come, it doesn’t matter. There’s no point in making a fuss about it. This won’t make either party good or bad. This is ICC’s event, and they will look into this matter, as they should,” Mushtaq said during an interview with Cricket Pakistan.
The BCCI has maintained that the decision for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan hinges on government approval. This stance was evident last year when the Indian team did not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, leading to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) adopting a hybrid model, with India playing its matches in Sri Lanka.
Mushtaq also addressed the criticism faced by Pakistan captain Babar Azam following the team’s performance in the T20 World Cup, where they failed to advance to the Super 9 stage. He underscored the importance of internal evaluation over external opinions.
“Many people are saying that he [Babar Azam] should quit captaincy and play as a regular player. But all these voices are coming from outside, from people who are watching and listening to things from the outside. These are comments from outsiders,” Mushtaq remarked.
He further stressed that decisions regarding leadership should come from within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “We shouldn’t listen to the voices of those outside. The people inside, who are observing the situation from within, should see what’s really going on and decide who is capable of leading the team effectively,” Mushtaq added.
The ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan have long impacted bilateral cricketing ties, with the two nations last engaging in a bilateral series in 2012-2013. Despite the challenges, Pakistan participated in the ODI World Cup in India last year.
The Champions Trophy 2025, an ICC event, continues to face uncertainty concerning India’s participation in Pakistan. The ICC is expected to address and resolve these matters as the event approaches.
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