PCB blames India's political scene for not sending the Men in Blue to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 - Reports

A huge statement has come from the side of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is related to the political interference in Indian cricket. 

This statement has also come in light of BCCI's reported denial to send the Indian team to Pakistan for next year's ICC Champions Trophy. The last edition took place back in 2017 with the 2025 hosts defeating Virat Kohli's team in the final. If the Champions trophy takes place in Pakistan, then the Men in Green will enter the competition as reigning champions. 

What triggered the PCB official to call out India's politicians? 

A couple of weeks ago, Indian captain Rohit Sharma had said that the Indian team would like to play against Pakistan in a bilateral series. The last time they played a non-ICC or ACC event was back in 2013 when the Pakistanis had come on tour of India for a 3-match ODI and a 2-match T20I series respectively. 

While the T20 series had remained a draw, the Pakistanis had won the ODI series by a margin of 2-1. That particular series was the last time we witnessed an Indo-Pak bilateral series. Since then, they have been clashing against each other only during ICC events like the Champions Trophy, 50-Over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and during Asia Cup tournaments. 

On Rohit Sharma's comments, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had given the green light to have a bilateral series in the future but he had a condition. Naqvi stated that he would allow the Pakistani team to play a bilateral series only if India came to their country for the Champions Trophy in February 2025. 

Weeks after that statement from Mohsin Naqvi, a PCB source have bashed the Indian political scene for interfering in cricketing matters. The source also stated that while Indian players are willing to play against Pakistan, it's the political leadership that puts constraints.  

"PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said it already that Pakistan is open to play a bilateral series with India at a neutral venue only if India agrees to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year,” the PCB source told IANS.

"There is a clear and glaring contrast between the statement of Rohit Sharma and a corresponding BCCI source-based story. It clearly shows that if its about cricket, the players are willing and have no problem in playing each other at home grounds. But its the political leadership of India that always creates nuisance and blocks the way every time," a source said via IANS. 

India to face Pakistan on June 9 

Meanwhile, the latest chapter in India and Pakistan's rivalry is set to be added on June 9th in the iconic city of New York when they clash at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Out of the 7 matches that both of them have played against each other in T20 World Cups, India have claimed victories in 5 matches with Pakistan only winning 1. The match has also remained tied only once.

The highest score in the fixture has been 160 whereas the lowest has been on 118. 

India's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan