New Delhi: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has sent a stern message to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid the ongoing row over Champions Trophy 2025. Harbhajan said it won’t matter much if Pakistan don’t visit India for future ICC tournaments. His comments came after PCB reportedly set certain conditions for accepting a hybrid model for the premier tournament.
BCCI and PCB have been involved in a row over the venue of the Champions Trophy 2025 for several months now. While BCCI has refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament, PCB are adamant about hosting the tournament in Pakistan. A hybrid model would see India play all their matches at a neutral venue in the UAE.
While PCB is reportedly ready to conduct the tournament in a hybrid model, it has asked ICC to give in writing that similar hybrid models will be adopted for all ICC events hosted by India for the next three years. PCB wants assurance from ICC that they will not have to travel to India for the ICC events hosted by the country and will get to play their matches at a neutral venue.
Reacting to the condition set by the PCB, Harbhajan said Pakistan not coming to India won’t bother anyone much. The former spinner said even the current Indian players will have no issues with the Pakistan team not travelling to India for their matches in ICC events.
“Don’t come to India if you don’t want to, we don’t have any issues. If Pakistan don’t come to India, it won’t matter much. You may ask current cricketers and they will have the same opinion. Had the situation in Pakistan been different, things could have been different,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by India Today.
Let the Champions Trophy happen: Harbhajan
Harbhajan further advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to keep their stubborn approach aside and accept the hybrid model to ensure the Champions Trophy 2025 is conducted smoothly. PCB are the official hosts of the tournament and efforts have been made by the ICC to convince them to accept a hybrid model to ensure India’s participation in the tournament is not affected.
“Let the tournament happen, you can’t just halt it. You can’t hold on to your stubbornness. There are many countries who would love to host, be it Malaysia, Sri Lanka or any other nation. India won’t tour Pakistan until the situation improves there,” Harbhajan added.
A final decision on Champions Trophy 2025’s future is expected to be taken in the next ICC board meeting. The international cricketing body is facing intense pressure from all stakeholders to release the official schedule of the tournament with less than three months left for the competition to begin.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has issued a stern warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid the ongoing row over Champions Trophy 2025. Harbhajan said Pakistan not coming to India for future ICC tournaments won’t bother teams. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
