The participation of India in the Champions Trophy 2025 has been so far embroiled in much controversy, especially pertaining to traveling to Pakistan for the event. Even though there have been prior talks on an amalgam model that would have India play its matches in Dubai, this has been categorically dismissed by the PCB. With both BCCI and PCB not budging, prospects about the future of the game look grim.
The legendary Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar sent out a chilling warning to both the PCB and the ICC: “The tournament might stand to lose around 100 million dollars (approximately Rs 844 crore) in sponsorship money in case of an Indian pull-out.”. “If Pakistan is unable to host India in our country or at a neutral venue, we will face significant financial losses,” Akhtar said in an interview. He further expressed his hope that India would participate in the tournament and suggested that it would be good for cricket to see them play in Pakistan.
In another development, the Indian blind cricket team will not participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup as permission to travel to Pakistan has been denied by the government on security grounds. A team of the Indian blind cricket players was to cross over to Pakistan through the Wagah border on Wednesday to participate in the tournament starting from November 23 to December 3.
Although the team received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sports ministry, clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not materialize. Shailendra Yadav, General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), expressed disappointment over the situation. “We were told unofficially that the blind team will not be permitted to travel to Pakistan. We are disappointed as we were scheduled to travel to the Wagah border tomorrow,” he stated.
Yadav slammed the timing of the decision and said a little earlier the team would have been saved from a lot of preparation troubles. “They say if the mainstream cricket team isn’t safe, how can we be safe? We will accept the decision, but why wait until the last minute to inform us?” he added. The blind cricket team, meanwhile, is staying on in New Delhi after a 25-day training camp in preparation for the World Cup.
