ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Shane Watson calls out Indian Cricket Team for Pakistan stance

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has reacted to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after he unveiled the trophy in Sydney.

The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be staged under a hybrid model after an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Shane Watson reacts to India’s refusal to tour Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The BCCI and PCB have decided that neither India nor Pakistan will play any ICC event matches in each other's countries until 2027. The Champions Trophy 2025 was originally set to be hosted in Pakistan, but the BCCI refused to send the Indian cricket team across the border.

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India last toured Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup, and since then, they have avoided crossing the border due to security reasons and historical on-border events that happened between the two countries in the past.

Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took a firm stand against the hybrid model for the 50-over tournament, but after nearly a month of negotiations, they agreed to make a compromise but with a couple of conditions.

It's unfortunate that things have worked out that way: Shane Watson

The ICC and the BCCI agreed to PCB’s conditions, and now India will play all of their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai. But Shane Watson expressed disappointment and said that India's refusal to play in Pakistan was just "unfortunate."

Shane Watson told the media during the Champions Trophy Tour: “It's unfortunate that things have worked out that way for sure. But there's no doubt that what everyone loves seeing—the India-Pakistan games. Whenever they come together, whether it's an ICC event, it is a really special time because we've got a sense of what's on the line. It's unfortunate that India isn't traveling to Pakistan for this Champions Trophy. But, unfortunately, that's just the way it is right now.”

Meanwhile, Shane Watson was not too concerned about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles in Australia, as he is confident that the Indian duo will light up the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with their entertaining batting.

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Shane Watson backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to shine in Champions Trophy 2025

The Aussie added, “I don't think their current poor form will really play a part at all with Rohit Sharma and Virat's impact in one-day cricket. It's going to be different conditions where they're playing in Dubai. One-day cricket does really free them both as well. Kohli is an absolute master of one-day cricket. Yes, he's a master of all formats, but especially ODIs. It's crazy to think of the control that he has over his innings. We'll see that again in the Champions Trophy.”

The former Australian all-rounder believes that Rohit Sharma's attacking style in ODIs, as seen in the 2023 World Cup, brings out his best. He expects Rohit to excel in the Champions Trophy, making the most of his remaining time in international cricket with a fearless approach.

Watson signed off by saying, “I'd be very surprised if he doesn't perform really well in the Champions Trophy, knowing that he probably doesn't have a lot of time left, whatever that is, but a lot of time left in international cricket. So, I'm sure he'll let the handbrake off.”