ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Wasim Akram drops 'if India is comfortable' bombshell on team's Pakistan visit

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has made an emotional appeal to Team India and the BCCI to participate in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Akram was also confident that India will visit to Pakistan for the next year's Champions Trophy.

The former Pakistan quick claimed that Indian stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have huge fan bases in Pakistan and will be looked after really well.

While Wasim Akram has made an emotional appeal, India's travel to Pakistan is only possible if the Indian government allows the team to go to the neighboring country. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has also made it clear that the confirmation of India's travel depends on the decision of the Indian government.

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Wasim Akram's emotional appeal to Team India and BCCI

Wasim Akram was recently asked about India's participation in the Champion Trophy 2025. The former Pakistan captain expressed his confidence and claimed that the Men in Blue will play all their matches in Pakistan.

"I think whatever I'm reading, there are positive vibes from [the] Indian government and [the] BCCI. I also read somewhere they will play probably all their games in Lahore. They will probably come to Lahore and travel [back] the same night. I'm all for it, as long as India is comfortable," Akram was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Further speaking on the matter, Wasim Akram promised that the Indian team will be looked after really well in terms of hospitality. He also claimed that star Indian players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have large no. of fans in Pakistan.

“And I can promise you, they [are] going to get looked after amazingly well. I mean, Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, [Hardik] Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, they have fans in Pakistan. The young cricket fans adore them,” Akram added.

The former left-arm quick further claimed that India's travel will be great for the overall growth of cricket and not just Pakistan cricket. He believes that it will help in removing all the negativity between the two nations.

Indian government to take a final decision

While Wasim Akram is confident of India's travel, the BCCI has not yet confirmed it and has left the decision in the hands of the Indian government. In case India refuses to travel to Pakistan, the tournament could be played in a hybrid model in UAE or Sri Lanka.

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in three major cities of Pakistan - Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. The tournament will be played from February 19 to March 9 according to the draft schedule.

India's last visit to Pakistan

Pakistan were also the hosts of last year's Asia Cup but India refused to travel due to security concerns. As a result, the tournament was conducted in a hybrid model with all of India's matches, including the final, held in Sri Lanka.

India have not travelled to Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. The political relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then. But Pakistan have constantly traveled to India for ICC tournaments. The Men in Green last came to India for the ODI World Cup 2023 when they failed to reach the semifinals.