The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be held in Pakistan, but due to the location of the tournament, the participation of the Indian team in the competition is uncertain. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) made it clear that the decision is completely up to what the government decides.
It is worth noting that the Asia Cup 2023 was held in hybrid mode due to India not travelling to Pakistan as well, and bilateral series between both sides have not taken place for more than a decade due to the political tensions between both countries. Reflecting on the overall scenario, the star India spinner Kuldeep Yadav took centre stage and opined that he would love to go and play in Pakistan if he ever got the chance to do so.
“As cricketers, we will play wherever we are sent. I have never been to Pakistan before, so I am excited. The Pakistani people are great, and whenever we get the chance, we will definitely go and play there,” Kuldeep said at an event in Australia, as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
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Notably, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) recently came forward and rubbished every report of the Champions Trophy 2025 being rescheduled or being moved out of the country. Ahead of the marquee tournament, the board has been hard at work in renovating their stadiums for the competition.
“I am just a normal cricketer, wherever they send us we will go to play. Obviously, I haven’t traveled to Pakistan before, so there is excitement. The people are very good, and I will play with them whenever I get the chance.”
Kuldeep Yadav via Voice of Australians#PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/40DTrlmWwb
— PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) August 27, 2024
Recently, the PCB’s chairman Mohsin Naqvi shed some light on the ongoing renovations at the various venues for the tournament. He seemed unhappy with the current state of the facilities. In fact he pointed out the prevailing issues like not having proper sanitation and washrooms inside the premises of the stadiums which clearly affects the fan viewing experience.
“There’s a huge difference in international stadiums and those of ours […] none of our stadiums are of international standard,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by NDTV.
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“The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) team is working day and night. [We] will make our stadiums one of the best in the world, providing basic facilities in stadiums is [our] first priority. God willing, the Champions Trophy will indeed take place in Pakistan. Match dates may shift, but the PCB is actively coordinating with security agencies. The main target is that these stadiums are ready for the Champions Trophy,” he concluded.
