Ahmed Shehzad Urges Pakistan to Take Strong Stance Against India’s Reluctance for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistani cricketer voiced frustration, accusing India of refusing to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy not due to cricketing reasons, but because of the political tensions between the two countries. He suggested that India’s stance goes beyond sports, linking it more to the strained diplomatic relationship, rather than concerns specific to the tournament or cricket itself.

Shehzad pointed out that while Pakistan has always praised India for their performance on the field, India has failed to keep their promises. He claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has made repeated commitments but consistently backed out when it comes time to honour them, leaving Pakistan disappointed. He said:

Pakistan now needs to step forward and clarify its stance. We’ve known for a long time that India is making false promises. Whenever they play well, we praise them because they deserve it. But when it comes to this issue (coming to Pakistan), India has been lying for a long time.

Shehzad urged a strong stance, suggesting that if India continues to refuse, Pakistan should be prepared to go ahead with the 2025 Champions Trophy without them. However, he emphasised that the tournament should remain in Pakistan and India’s matches should not be moved to a neutral venue. Pakistan, according to Shehzad, should stand firm and not allow changes to the original plan. Moreover, he accused the BCCI of undermining the PCB’s efforts to host major ICC events over the years, causing setbacks for Pakistan.