With talks around India’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 intensifying, former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has made a bold claim saying that India would have to provide a solid reason to justify that they won’t travel to Pakistan for the tournament. According to Latif, a nation can deny their participation if it is a bilateral series, however, this cannot be the case in International Cricket Council (ICC) events.
It is to be noted that the ICC Champions Trophy is marking its return after being last played in 2017 in England. The defending champions, Pakistan have been given the hosting right for the next edition, which is scheduled to be played from February 19 till March 9.
If India doesn’t come, Pakistan will take a big step: Rashid Latif
Speaking with GeoNews, a Pakistan news channel after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi denied rumours of the tournament being hosted in hybrid model, the 56-year-old former cricketer opined that the Champions Trophy is an ICC event and all participating teams have signed for it. “This is an ICC event. The cycle has been signed from 2024-2031. All the broadcasters and sponsors have signed about the teams that will participate in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup,” Latif said during the Geo News show on Friday night.
“If a team denies to participate, they need to have a solid reason to justify their call. Just like in 1996, the West Indies and Australia did not go to Sri Lanka but still reached the final. If you make a reason for security, then it is not a solid reason. Teams like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa are coming to Pakistan,” he added.
The former Pakistan cricketer also claimed that ICC is existing because of India and Pakistan. “ICC is existing only because there is Pakistan and India. If the government of Pakistan also says that we won’t play, then the ICC will be of no use as no one will watch the match,” Rashid further continued. “We can say that India does not want to play bilateral matches, but you can’t deny the ICC events as you already have signed it. India has to make solid ground. If India doesn’t come, Pakistan will take a big step by not participating in the tournament,” he added.
Watch Rashid Latif’s BOLD claim on India’s participation in Champions Trophy
As per the tentative schedule proposed by PCB, the eight-team tournament will be held across three venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each followed by semi-finals and a final.