Hasan Ali becomes the 1st Pakistan player to speak on India not going to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali has reacted to the possibility of India not traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be played in February 2025. Hasan Ali stated that the upcoming Champions Trophy should be held in Pakistan regardless of the Indian National Cricket Team's participation.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly proposed a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025. The BCCI wants India to play their matches either in Sri Lanka or the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In contrast, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) insists on hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan.

The PCB has suggested hosting India's matches in Lahore. This might be the only compromise from the Pakistani board. The ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference in Colombo, with senior officials from both the BCCI and PCB, is expected to resolve the issue regarding the Champions Trophy.

Then They Should Come To Pakistan Too for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali stated that sports should be separate from politics and added that several Indian players have expressed a desire to play in Pakistan. However, Hasan acknowledged that the decision will depend on India's policies and cricket board.

“If we’re going there (to India) to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. A lot of people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics. But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So, it doesn’t mean that the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider," Hasan said on Samaa TV.

The 30-year-old pacer highlighted the PCB chairman's stance to host the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Hasan stated that cricket should be played in Pakistan even if India chooses not to take part, adding that there are other teams besides India.

“As our (PCB) chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy 2025 is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan. If India doesn’t want to come, we’ll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India doesn’t want to participate, it doesn’t mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India," Hasan added.

Pakistan was awarded the right to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is reportedly set to begin on February 19 in Karachi, with the final match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 9. A total of three venues have been shortlisted by the Pakistan Cricket Board to host the matches in the tournament.

For the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan faced a setback when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) approved a hybrid model at India's request. The PCB had to move all of India's matches to Sri Lanka, including the final match. Pakistan wanted a similar hybrid model for the ODI World Cup in India, but it didn't materialize.

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