ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Kamran Akmal wants India to travel to Pakistan, ‘pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab…’

  • ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Former Pak cricketer Kamran Akmal called on India to play in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, stressing that politics should not interfere with cricket. He highlighted the efforts Pakistan has made to revive cricket in the country.

Written By Karishma Pranav Bhavsar
Updated30 Aug 2024, 11:46 AM IST
Advertisement
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, 3rd ODI: India’s captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir (C) and chief selector Ajit Agarkar (R) look on during a practice session at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on August 6, 2024, on the eve of third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and India. (AFP)

Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has said that Team India should travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While speaking exclusively to Times of India, Akmal emphasized the importance of keeping politics separate from sports, adding that “when a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India?”

With ICC Champions Trophy is set to be held in Pakistan in 2025, there have been speculations if India will be travelling to the country for the mega event.

The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan between February and March. However, due to the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.

Advertisement

While speaking to TOI, Akmal expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity to play in India and participate in various series.

“I really enjoyed those times. India should travel to Pakistan, and Pakistan should go to India. Let’s keep the political matters aside and play and love cricket,” Akmal was quoted as saying by the Times of India,” he told TOI.

He questioned, “When a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India?"

Kamran during his exclusive interview also expressed his frustration over India’s stance towards Pakistan. He pointed out that Pakistan had already lost the opportunity to host the Asia Cup and now faces uncertainty over the ICC Champions Trophy.

He said, “Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (First you took away the Asia Cup from Pakistan; now talking about the Champions Trophy, why?)”

Advertisement

 

He further added that the Pakistan has done lot of hard work to restore cricket within the country, emphasizing that if India were to invite Pakistan to play, the Pakistani government would have fully supported it.

“… Pakistan has done a lot of hard work to bring cricket back to the country. If India invites Pakistan, our government will never stop us. They will say, ‘Go and play.’ The Indian government should do the same. Let’s keep politics aside and play cricket,” Akmal said as quoted by TOI.

 

Catch all theBusiness News, Sports News,Breaking NewsEvents andLatest News Updates on Live Mint. Download TheMint News App to get Daily Market Updates
First Published:30 Aug 2024, 11:46 AM IST
Business NewsSportsCricket NewsICC Champions Trophy 2025: Kamran Akmal wants India to travel to Pakistan, ‘pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab…’
OPEN IN APP
Read Next Story
HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts