The Indian cricket team hasn’t toured Pakistan in 16 years now and reports indicate that the BCCI has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold its matches for the next year’s Champions Trophy in either Dubai or Sri Lanka. Pakistan is scheduled to host the competition in 2025 with eight top-ranked teams in the world set to take part.
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However, the diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan mean the bilateral cricket ties between the two nations have been suspended with India last touring Pakistan in 2008. Last year, with Pakistan hosting Asia Cup, India played all their matches of the tournament in Sri Lanka after BCCI was reportedly not given a go-ahead by the government to travel across the border.
Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi though reckons that cricket should be kept aside from politics.
“I welcome the Indian team (in Pakistan) and they should come,” Afridi told News24. “We’ve always received huge respect and love in our tours of India. Similarly, the Indian team also received love and respect during their tour in 2005. Cricket tours should be kept aside from politics. There is no big politics than India and Pakistan playing against each other in their countries. There cannot be a more beautiful relationship.”
Afridi also cited the huge popularity of Virat Kohli in Pakistan and claims the Indian batting superstar will forget the adulation he’s used to back home once he experiences the ‘craze’ among his fans in the neighbouring country.
“Virat ko jo pyaar India mai mila hai, mere khayal mai wo pyaar bhool jayega. Pakistan may bohot craze hai, usko bohot pasand karte hain. Even mera favourite player hai wo. Virat ko apni ek class hai. (The love Virat has received in India, I think he will forget it because there’s lot of craze among the fans for him in Pakistan. Even my favourite cricketer is Kohli. He has his own class).
Kohli, after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup with India, announced his retirement from T20Is but Afridi feels he could have played for a few more years.
“He should have continued playing T20Is since he makes it look beautiful,” Afridi said. “He’s fit, in form and keeps on training. His presence would have benefitted the new players in the team. You cannot blood in so many youngsters at the same time. There should be a combination of senior and junior players. What Virat could have taught them, nobody else can.”
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