Photo Credit: Instagram Photos of @mrizwanpak, @surya_14kumar
The ongoing dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has escalated following the Indian government’s refusal to allow the national cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The BCCI promptly informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of this decision, which led to a proposal for a hybrid model for India’s matches. Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has instructed the PCB not to host any matches outside of Pakistan, as it holds exclusive rights to organize the tournament on home soil.
Recently, India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was asked by a fan about the team’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan. In response, he candidly said, “Arrey bhaiya, hamare hath mein thodi hai (Brother, it is not in our hands),” a remark that quickly went viral.
During a press interaction on Wednesday, Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan was asked for his thoughts on Suryakumar‘s comments while preparing for a four-match T20I series in South Africa. Rizwan expressed hope that Indian players would be warmly received by fans in Pakistan and suggested that discussions between the cricket boards and governments might soon resolve the issue.
“KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav—we would welcome all players. This is not our decision; it rests with the PCB. We hope that any decisions made will come through discussion and be the right ones. If the Indian players come, we will warmly welcome them,” Rizwan stated as Pakistan prepared for their T20I opener against Australia in Brisbane.
There are increasing concerns that if the boards cannot resolve their differences, the prestigious tournament may be moved to South Africa. Some speculations also suggest that the tournament could take place without either Indian or Pakistani teams, a scenario that would significantly impact the ICC’s revenue and financial stability.
Matches between India and Pakistan are not only pivotal for the cricket boards but also crucial to the ICC’s financial ecosystem, as these encounters are a major source of revenue for various stakeholders in the cricketing world.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
