New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has got a major boost in its bid to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after the Afghanistan cricket team assured its participation in the event. During the ICC Annual Board Meeting in Colombo, ACB president Mirwais Ashraf and CEO Naseeb Khan gave the assurance.
According to a PCB source, they conveyed their participation in the showpiece event saying that they are looking forward to send their team to Pakistan. They refrained from the rumours that some nations were following the path of India in not sending their team for the big-ticket event.
“They told the chairman that Afghanistan is looking forward to sending its team to Pakistan since they are participating in the Champions Trophy for the first time,” a PCB said.
“They gave the assurance after speculations about some countries following India’s path if the BCCI decides not to send its team to Pakistan for the event,” he added.
The BCCI because of its status can easily motivate the other boards of the region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in refusing to travel to the Asian nation and that is what the general perception in Pakistan is. Meanwhile, a former PCB chairman Khalid Mehmood recently said that if India didn’t send its team to Pakistan, one can expect teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to tow the line and insisted on playing the competition at some other venue.
Pakistan will host the marquee event in February and March 2025, which will be their first major ICC event scheduled , since jointly hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. However, it remains to be seen if they are able to get the complete hosting rights or the tournament is hosted at a neutral venue.
Afghanistan cricket board has given its nod to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The showpiece event will be held in February and March. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
