Former Pakistan player Shahid Afridi has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. However, BCCI is reportedly not touring Pakistan and instead wants a hybrid model for the ICC
event as well.
Expressing his disappointment over India’s move, Afridi stated that Pakistan continued to tour India even after receiving several threats. He also suggested that India will come for the 2025 Champions Trophy if they want to support Pakistan, otherwise, they will give security concerns for their refusal as well.
Speaking at a media interaction, Shahid Afridi remarked: “Hum itni baar india gaye hai. Mushkil halat mein gaye. Humein dhamkiya bhi milti rahi, fir bhi hum india ke tour karte rahe. Aapki niyat se pata chal gya. Humne india ko support kiya hai (We have gone to India many times. We went there in tough times. Despite getting threats we continued to go on India tours. We got to know about their intentions. We have always supported India).”
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“Humko threat milte rahe but Pakistan Cricket Board and government ne initiative liya hai. Agar indian cricket board ki niyat hai Pakistan ke sath chalne ki toh aajayega. Agar nahi hai, toh nahi aayenge fir security ko bahane bana dege (Even after threats Pakistan Cricket Board and the government took an initiative. If India has the intention to come to Pakistan, they will come. Otherwise, they will make an excuse of security),” he further added.
Notably, India have not toured Pakistan for a cricket series since the 2008 Asia Cup whereas Pakistan were originally the host for the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup as well. However, following India’s move to visit the country, a hybrid model was introduced. Just four matches of the continental tournament were played in Pakistan, with the rest of the nine games taking place in Sri Lanka. Shahid Afridi also spoke
about how Gary Kirsten should be roped in to work at the grassroots level. He also suggested that more than the senior team, the Under-16 and Under-19 players need that kind of guidance as well.
“You need good teachers for the students to be good. Our focus on the grassroots level is not as much as it should be. We don’t need Gary Kirsten for the Pakistan team, we need guys like him to work at the grassroots. We need them at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels so that the mindset of those children changes from there itself,” Shahid Afridi concluded.
