New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 row, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has made a bold claim with respect to India and star batter Virat Kohli. Akhtar has said that both India and Kohli are dying to play cricket in Pakistan but they are not getting the clearance. The former Pakistan speedster said that if India vs Pakistan match takes place, the TV rights sponsorship are going to hit the roof.
In a discussion on a Tv channel in Pakistan, Akhtar said that the entire Indian team and especially Kohli want to come to Pakistan and play but they are not doing so because of the government. Akhtar’s bold claim comes at a time when both the countries are at loggerheads with each other with respect to the staging the India matches at a neutral venue.
Here’s what he said
“Virat Kohli and BCCI dying to play in Pakistan.”
Shoaib Akhtar ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/r7RamVY2fT
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) December 4, 2024
Last week after the crucial meeting involving ICC, BCCI and the PCB, Pakistan cricket slightly softened their stance as they agreed for the hybrid model in the marquee event but in return, set some conditions for the ICC.
Pakistan’s firm stance and tough conditions
The conditions that the Pakistan cricket board laid down were that they should be allowed to play their ICC event matches that take place in India in the future at a neutral as they do not wish to travel to India either. On Wednesday, the BCCI firmly replied to the ICC on this saying that they refuse to agree to Pakistan’s fusion model as the team does not have any security threats in India just like the Indian team has in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how the ICC schedules the things from here on after BCCI’s refusal for Pakistan’s hybrid model request. With close to three months left for the event to begin, the global governing body would be keen to finalise the scheme of things as soon as possible.
Amidst the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 row, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has made a bold claim with respect to India and star batter Virat Kohli. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
