"Don’t come to India if you don’t want to" - Harbhajan Singh sends strong message to Pakistan amid 2025 Champions Trophy scheduling debacle
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently opined that the Pakistan cricket team's decision not to travel to India in the future will have no impact on the latter. The two neighboring countries have been at it over the past few months regarding the scheduling of the 2025 Champions Trophy, originally planned to be played in Pakistan.
The BCCI confirmed that the Indian side will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament, citing security reasons. However, Pakistan denied their request to play in a hybrid model before finally giving in, per the latest development.
Yet, they have also suggested that the hybrid model must be used for all ICC events scheduled in India until 2031.
Weighing in on this subject, Harbhajan Singh told Sports Today:
"Don’t come to India if you don’t want to, we don’t have any issues. If Pakistan don’t come to India, it won’t matter much. You may ask current cricketers and they will have the same opinion. Had the situation in Pakistan been different, things could have been different."
However, he praised Pakistan as a brilliant host when he toured the country during his playing days.
"They were brilliant hosts when I went there. They did not charge us money for food whenever we went to the market, and some also gifted us shawls," Harbhajan added.
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India.
India's last visit to Pakistan was in 2008 when they played the 50-over Asia Cup. Their last full tour of Pakistan dates back to 2005-06.
“I feel bad for the viewers there that they don’t get to see champion players like Virat Kohli" - Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh acknowledged the Pakistan fans' disappointment in not having the opportunity to watch some of the best Indian cricketers up close.
Some of India's modern greats - Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah - have never played an international game in Pakistan.
“I feel bad for the viewers there that they don’t get to see champion players like Virat Kohli and others around the world. But they are not at fault. Until and unless the situation improves there, things won’t change," Harbhajan said in the same interveiw.
The former spinner also urged Pakistan to allow the Champions Trophy to take place without taking a stubborn approach.
"Let the tournament happen, you can’t just halt it. You can’t hold on to your stubbornness. There are many countries who would love to host, be it Malaysia, Sri Lanka or any other nation. India won’t tour Pakistan until the situation improves there," Harbhajan concluded.
India and Pakistan have continued playing each other in multi-national tournaments over the years, with their latest meeting coming in the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York.