Shoaib Malik urges India to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

26 July, 2024

The PCB stands firm on its stance of hosting all of the Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the country despite rumours of a neutral venue or plan B. It was reported that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan and play their matches on a neutral venue.

Malik believes that India should visit Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy as the Green Shirts too went to India to play the World Cup last year. The all-rounder stressed on keeping politics aside in sports.

“Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that's a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn't come into sports. The Pakistan team went to India last year, and now it's a good opportunity for the Indian team too,” Malik said while talking on a YouTube channel.

“I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven't played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. We are good people. We're very hospitable people, so I'm sure the Indian team should come.”

Three venues — Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore — will host the matches of eight matches and according to PCB's proposed schedule to ICC, all of India's matches will take place in Lahore.

Except India, all eight teams that will participate in the Champions Trophy have already played in Pakistan and the PCB believes that India does not have a strong reason not to come here.

The proposed dates for the Champions Trophy are from 19th February to 9th March.

This event will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus, with its last occurrence in 2017, when Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating India in the final.