ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rashid Latif's Dawood Ibrahim threat to India creates fresh controversy

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has stirred a storm by openly glorifying his connections with one of India’s most wanted terrorists, Dawood Ibrahim, amidst the deadlock between India and Pakistan over next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

In a shocking yet controversial statement about his connection with India's most wanted Dawood Ibrahim, Rashid Latif has openly claimed that he is residing close to the terrorists’ residence in Karachi, referring to him as “Bhai,” a term often associated with the underworld figure.

Rashid Latif sparks outrage with shocking comments on Dawood Ibrahim and Champions Trophy 2025

The remarks have drawn widespread criticism on social media, especially as Latif suggested India should play the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals in Karachi, further adding fuel to the fire. His explosive comments come at a time when tensions between the two nations remain high over the Champions Trophy 2025.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: New Deadlock emerges between India and Pakistan after Fusion Formula

And then India already repeatedly accused Pakistan of sheltering Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb attacks. Rashid Latif recently appeared on the Caught Behind show on YouTube, where he was talking to Dr. Nauman Niaz about India’s stance on not traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

During the discussion, the host Niaz mentioned India’s position in the ICC in regard to the Champions Trophy 2025. He mentioned that the last four ICC Chairmen’s were from India, while Zaheer Abbas was the last President of the governing body from Pakistan.

From India, N. Srinivasan, Shashank Manohar, and Jay Shah. Notably, before them, Sharad Pawar served as the ICC president.

I stay near Bhai's house: Rashid Latif

During the conversation, Rashid mentioned how N. Srinivasan’s IPL franchise was involved in spot-fixing during an interview, and then the host called him a madman, leading the former Pakistani cricketer to threaten him of Dawood by saying, “He is living beside his home.”

He then indirectly warned India by saying, "Whom are you messing with? I stay near Bhai's house, hinting at Dawood staying in Karachi. Now, he has been bashing by the fans on social media and backing the BCCI’s decision not to send Team India to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan ex-cricketer Rashid Latif bragging about his connections with most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim:

Says "whom are you messing with?" I stay near Bhai's house (ref to Dawood staying in Karachi)

And he wants India to play Champions Trophy SF in Karachi. pic.twitter.com/tDnTELRJDo

— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) December 2, 2024

Here's how fans react to Rashid Latif's controversial statement:

So the so called two Pakistan intellectuals who have all the knowledge about the world cricket talking about an underworld most wanted not only of India but world & then they want to host India @iRashidLatif68 this is the reason we never trust you 🇵🇰🐍 like you bloody bas***d

— Vidit #Sidhearts❤️ (@ARFOREVER16) December 2, 2024

@iRashidLatif68 did you hear the name of #LawrenceBishnoi ?

Country like #Canada started feeling heat just by listening to this name

— Amit Sharma 🇮🇳 (@iamamitvasu) December 2, 2024

#rashidlatif be like#IccChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/VjXWmbymYb

— Paresh Nagrani (@paresh083) December 2, 2024

Daud gnd fattu mdc uski aukaat nhi samne Ane ki bkl pr uchaal raha h

— Shadow Knight (@ShadowKnig65352) December 2, 2024

Inka toh bhai Insaniyat ke Rakhas hai wo Yeh fbi top terrorists list inke bhai behen hi hai pic.twitter.com/ZDx5z9lGJi

— 𝐊𝐑𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐤 🇮🇳 𝕏✪ (@tokcric22) December 2, 2024

@iRashidLatif68 As per the @ForeignOfficePk and the ISI, Dawood is not in Pakistan. Now this man is saying Dawood is his neighbor, if your bhai is so courageous why is he hiding in Pakistan? Whom to be trusted? Pakistanis are a bunch of pathological liars.

— Osheen (@Megha94507473) December 2, 2024

Aacha hai location bta rha hai joker latif 😂😂 raw is watching 💪🏻

— Ankur garg (@AnkurKu13805753) December 2, 2024

Rasheed Latif is a certified chutia... This chutiya bhikharis have no shame.. international beggars

— Bhavik (@Bhavik2301) December 2, 2024

i bet even Osama bin laden was staying his house before he was shot dead by USA army
yet these clowns will claim Pakistan is the safest place on earth 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
side effect of madrsachap education system

— BAAP_INDIA (@BannerSphinx) December 2, 2024

@iRashidLatif68 is himself a terrori$t and his brother Dawood is terrori$t too.

— Chinki (@Chinki__2004) December 2, 2024

No education can change this delusional society's mindset. Bragging about a terrorist and a gangster is all they can offer. Cut off all contacts and let's stop even talking about this failed country and society even at our dinner tables. We need to move on from this toxicity.

— Karn Deb (@KD21011991) December 2, 2024

However, not Latif, but Pakistani former cricketer Javed Miandad shares a close relationship with mafia superstar Dawood. Miandad’s son Junaid Miandad married Ibrahim's daughter Mahrukh in 2006. There were also massive reports that Pakistan was hiding Dawood.

Read Also: Jay Shah quits BCCI secretary position, assumes ICC Chairmanship

Notably, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is one of India's most wanted terrorists, and he is reportedly residing in Karachi. For years, Pakistan has consistently refuted claims of providing shelter to Dawood, who is accused of masterminding the 1993 Mumbai serial attacks.

Hundreds of Indians lost their lives in these devastating attacks. Despite multiple requests from India to hand over Dawood to them, Pakistan refused all the claims. And now Latif’s open admission would certainly make things worse for Pakistan, at least in terms of hosting the Champions Trophy 2025.

A Fusion Formula has been agreed upon by BCCI and PCB for ICC Champions Trophy 2025.