Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his dissatisfaction with India's reluctance to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
Speaking to the media in Karachi on Monday, Afridi criticized the Indian team's indecision, stating that if they are unwilling to play in Pakistan, they should refrain from participating altogether.
Afridi's comments come in the wake of ongoing speculation about the venue for the prestigious tournament. Reports suggest that the Indian team might opt for a neutral venue rather than traveling to Pakistan.
"Team Pakistan had travelled to various Indian cities even under challenging conditions and in the face of threats," added Afridi.
A report published by Sports Tak on July 6 indicates that the decision ultimately lies with the Indian government, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to address this issue at the upcoming ICC meeting in Sri Lanka.
Despite these uncertainties, the PCB remains resolute in its stance to host all matches of the Champions Trophy within Pakistan. Preparations are underway, with the board planning to hold matches across three cities: Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore.
The PCB has allocated Rs12.80 billion for the renovation of key stadiums, including Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi's National Bank Cricket Arena, and Rawalpindi's International Cricket Stadium.
Sources suggest that if India chooses not to travel to Pakistan, Pakistan may reciprocate by not participating in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The Champions Trophy will return after an eight-year hiatus, with its last edition in 2017 seeing Pakistan emerge victorious against India in the final.
In a separate media interaction, Afridi also addressed queries about his son-in-law, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. He remarked that he often reprimands Shaheen, but with few words of praise. Afridi further mentioned that he has ceased commenting on cricket publicly, as his observations have often been taken negatively.
