Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad feels Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has missed the golden chance of hosting India by agreeing to the hybrid model for the ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy 2025. Notably, the Champions Trophy will now be held in a hybrid model following India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan.
Furthermore, all the ICC events till 2027 will follow the same model with Pakistan also playing at a neutral venue in the events hosted by India. Following the announcement by the ICC, Shehzad shared his thoughts on the development, saying that PCB missed a great opportunity of hosting India.
“Pakistan had a golden chance to host India. All cricket boards had signed the agreement in 2021 that Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy. ICC cannot back off. PCB has missed the chance I think. We should forget that the Indian team will ever come to Pakistan now. Just forget it. The only way you could have brought India here was by an ICC event,” Shehzad told YouTuber Nadir Ali.
Further speaking ahead, the opening batter suggested a bizarre idea of building a stadium at the border of two countries and playing matches there.
India don’t hold bilateral relations with Pakistan since 2012-13
“I did a podcast where I suggested the idea of building a stadium by the border. One gate would be towards India, the other gate would be towards Pakistan. The players would come from the respective gates and play. But even then there would be issues for the BCCI and their government. When their players come to the field by our side, they would need visas which they would not get,” he added.
India and Pakistan don’t hold bilateral cricketing relations since 2012-13, when Pakistan came to India for a limited overs tour. India last travelled to Pakistan to play in the Asia Cup 2008 and haven’t travelled to the country since then due to the stiff political relations between the two nations. However, Pakistan have continuously visited India for ICC events, namely the T20 World Cup 2016 and also the ODI World Cup 2023.
