ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rashid Latif sensationally reveals Pakistan will boycott CT if India refuse to tour

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif made a bold claim regarding Pakistan's participation in the Champions Trophy 2025. Latif claimed that Pakistan will deny from participating in the tournament if India does not come to Pakistan.

As the dates for the Champions Trophy are arriving, speculations are rising about whether India will travel to Pakistan or not. While all the other participating nations have confirmed their travel, the BCCI has not yet confirmed India's travel for the tournament.

According to the BCCI, India's travel to Pakistan will depend upon the permission of the Indian government. Over the years, India have cited security concerns as one of the main reasons to send their team and it seems to be the same case this time as well.

Also read: Rohit Sharma's travel confirmed; playing 11 spot unconfirmed for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Rashid Latif makes a bold claim regarding Pakistan's participation in Champions Trophy

During a show on Geo News, Rashid Latif was asked about the implications of India's denial to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Latif claimed that India cannot deny participating as this is an ICC event and the BCCI has signed for it.

"This is an ICC event. The cycle has been signed from 2024-2031. All the broadcasters and sponsors have signed about the teams that will participate in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup," Latif said during the show.

"If a team denies to participate, they need to have a solid reason to justify their call. Just like in 1996, West Indies and Australia did not go to Sri Lanka but still reached the final," he added.

India have cited security concerns to send their team to Pakistan over the years. But Rashid Latif reckons that it is not a solid reason as the other big teams like Australia and England are also coming to Pakistan.

"If you make a reason for security, then it is not a solid reason. Teams like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa are coming to Pakistan. ICC is existing only because there is Pakistan and India," Latif noted.

"If the government of Pakistan also says that we won't play, then ICC will be of no use as no one will watch the match," he added.

Vikrant Gupta said "India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, no govt approval"

Rashid Latif said "BCCI signed for it, they have to come. Otherwise Pakistan will not play this event"

It's heating up! What will happen? 🇮🇳🇵🇰🔥pic.twitter.com/OJsJvM9r0J

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) November 8, 2024

Pakistan won't participate if India does not travel - Rashid Latif

The former Pakistan wicketkeeper even claimed that Pakistan can deny from participating in the tournament if India did not travel for the tournament. According to him, India have already signed for the ICC events and cannot deny it now.

"We can say that India does not want to play bilateral matches but you can't deny the ICC events as you already have signed it. India have to make a solid ground. If India doesn't come, Pakistan will take a big step by not participating in the tournament," Rashid Latif claimed.

India's last travel to Pakistan

India have not traveled to Pakistan since 2008 when they traveled to the country for the Asia Cup. Since then, the political relations of the two nations have been strained due to which both of them have not played with each other.

According to the draft schedule, Champions Trophy 2025 will be played from February 19 to March 9. India have been slotted in Group A alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand, and hosts Pakistan.