Former Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan has voiced his strong support for Pakistan hosting the 2025 Champions Trophy, expressing his belief that it would significantly benefit cricket in the Asian region. His comments come at a time when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised concerns about India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, citing security issues.
Khan emphasized that the event’s successful hosting would not only be a momentous occasion for Pakistan but would also help in advancing the growth of the sport across the subcontinent. He highlighted the significance of such events in strengthening regional ties through sport, particularly given the historic rivalry between India and Pakistan.
Younis Khan On Why India Should Travel To Pakistan
“I am very excited. I hope the Champions Trophy takes place and proves beneficial not only for Pakistan but also for cricket in this region. We need India and Pakistan to play regularly so that the tension diminishes. I hope India will visit Pakistan, and Pakistan will visit India,” Younis Khan said during a post-match press conference at the Abu Dhabi T10.
India’s Security Concerns Over Traveling To Pakistan
Earlier in November, the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially informed the PCB that India will not send its team to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. India reiterated that its decision was mainly based on security concerns, a position that has often sparked controversy and frustration in Pakistan.
The PCB took its first step by inquiring from the ICC. It started discussing matters of how to react with the Pakistani Government. The board would move forward and submit a formal approach to the ICC by trying to get India to reconsider their stance, as the Indian team did travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup.
Impact Of Regular India-Pakistan Matches On Regional Relations
Khan has also emphasized the wider significance of frequent matches between India and Pakistan, saying that such games may reduce the political tensions between those two countries. He stated further that though the teams currently meet only in ICC events and the Asia Cup, bilateral series would create an opportunity for direct positive interaction through cricket.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012-13 in India. However, since then, myriad political and security issues have restricted direct cricketing ties between these two cricketing behemoths. Even now, the decrease in regular encounters fuels frustration on both sides, and the hunger among fans for more hi-stakes matches is an all-continuing factor.
Asia Cup 2023: India’s Matches Were Played In Sri Lanka
The venue and security concerns were an issue once again during the 2023 Asia Cup as India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka, whereas Pakistan had hosted the rest of the matches. This arrangement was criticized by some, and there were demands from both camps to play on their respective home grounds. Yet another complexity added was the lack of participation by India for matches in Pakistan.
A Growing Divide In Cricketing Relations
Despite their long history of rivalry, India and Pakistan haven’t been in action against each other in a bilateral series in over a decade. The lack of direct encounters between the two sides has been the prime talking point, as cricket enthusiasts continue to lament the absence of something that would otherwise be one of the biggest spectacles in world cricket.
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The two teams now only face each other in ICC events and the Asia Cup, so the desire for more frequent meetings remains high. However, the political and security hurdles continue to prevent regular series resumption, keeping the fans of both teams waiting for their next chance to witness the excitement that an India-Pakistan contest offers.
(With ANI Inputs)
