ICC Champions Trophy 2025: "Opinions don't matter" - Kapil Dev's bombshell statement amid BCCI vs PCB tussle

Former India National Cricket Team skipper Kapil Dev gave his take on the situation surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that it's the government's responsibility and opinions of people like him don't matter at all.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been in the news for a while now. The tournament, even though it hasn't started, has been marred by the controversy between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) due to the venue of the event.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year in February and March

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year in February and March. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided against sending the India National Cricket Team to Pakistan due to security reasons.

This is because the Indian government didn't give clearance to BCCI to send the Indian team to the tournament. The governing body wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well and asked them to play the tournament in a Hybrid model with India games to be played outside of Pakistan.

However, on the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board has been strong in its stance. They have mentioned that they will be hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan. They have also asked the ICC to ask for a written explanation from BCCI over their decision.

This has seen the schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 getting delayed as well. There is a lot of uncertainty over the schedule and venue. There were reports which claimed that the ICC will be announcing the schedule soon but the venues will be decided later.

People like us should not give opinions, our opinions don't matter - Kapil Dev on ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Amid all this, Kapil Dev said that the government needs to play a crucial role in this. He emphasized he is not bigger than anyone else and his opinions don't matter in this regard. Speaking to ANI, he explained:

"It's the government's responsibility. People like us should not give opinions, our opinions don't matter. Kapil Dev can't be bigger than anyone else."

BCCI objects to PCB's plans to conduct the trophy tour in disputed areas of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)

Recently there was a controversy over the Trophy tour of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well. The PCB had planned to conduct the tour in disputed areas of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), specifically Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad. However, it was objected to by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who asked the ICC to take an immediate step.

This then made ICC change the Trophy tour. After being in Pakistan, trophy will tour Afghanistan (November 26-28), followed by Bangladesh (December 10-13), South Africa (December 15-22), Australia (December 25-January 5), New Zealand (January 6-11), England (January 12-14) and India (January 15-26).

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