Mohammad Rizwan urges Rohit Sharma and the Indian team to visit Pakistan for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.
The ongoing deadlock regarding the venue for the ICC Champions Trophy has prompted Pakistan’s newly appointed ODI and T20I captain, Mohammad Rizwan, to address the situation. It appears that the Indian team may not be permitted to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, leading the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to seek alternative arrangements. Despite the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other stakeholders to retain the tournament within the country, a resolution has yet to be reached. Rizwan, who has succeeded Babar Azam as the captain for Pakistan’s white-ball formats, has extended an invitation to the Indian team, encouraging them to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
“Indian cricketers are cherished by fans here, and their presence would bring immense joy. Should they come, we will ensure they receive a warm reception,” Rizwan remarked on the issue.
The uncertainty surrounding India’s participation in Pakistan for this significant event persists. Since the 2008 Asia Cup, India has refrained from participating in any cricket tournaments held in Pakistan, primarily due to strained relations stemming from terrorism concerns.
The last bilateral series between the two nations occurred from December 2012 to January 2013 in India. Since then, encounters have been limited to ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. Conversely, Pakistan has visited India three times since the 2008 Asia Cup.
Recently, reports have emerged indicating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering three potential options for hosting the Champions Trophy.
India haven’t played in Pakistan since 2008, and the two countries haven’t played a bilateral since 2012.
According to these reports, the ICC is contemplating either proceeding with the tournament in Pakistan as originally planned or adopting a hybrid model that would see matches held in both Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under this hybrid model, matches involving India and knockout stage games would be hosted in Dubai. The third option involves relocating the entire tournament outside of Pakistan, with Dubai, Sri Lanka, or South Africa being considered as potential hosts.
