Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his views regarding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India refused to travel to Pakistan for the event and it caused a lot of chaos in the cricketing world for about a month.
Pakistan earlier said that they would withdraw from the tournament if it moved somewhere else. They were not ready to accept the hybrid model for the tournament. But, after a meeting with ICC, the PCB accepted the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025.
India will play their matches in Dubai and the final will be most probably played there if India reaches the final. Pakistan put in a condition that the Pakistan cricket team won’t travel to India for the ICC events hosted by India.
Hybrid model for Champions Trophy was signed earlier: Shoaib Akhtar
After all this, Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his thoughts about the issue and travelling to India. Talking to a media channel Akhtar said, “You are getting paid for hosting rights and revenue, and that’s fine we all understand it. Pakistan’s stance· is also reasonable. They should have maintained a strong position.
“Once we are able to host the Champions Trophy in our country and they are unwilling to come. They should share the revenue with us at a higher rate. That’s a good call”, he further added.
Akhtar continued by saying, “In terms of playing in India in the future, we should extend a hand of friendship and go there. My belief has always been: go to India and defeat them there (India mein khelo aur wahi unhe maarke aao). I understand that the hybrid model had already been signed earlier”.
Reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the ICC to increase their share of ICC’s revenue. It is after accepting a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025.
