"Very slim chances they will agree to play in Pakistan"- Former PCB chief on India's participation in Champions Trophy 2025
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Khalid Mahmood feels there is little chance of India sending their team to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Blue have refused to travel to Pakistan for political reasons in recent years.
Mahmood feels the BCCI has great influence in the ICC and reckons other Asian teams like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh may also follow suit if India back out. He thinks this could be a disaster for PCB as it would incur financial losses.
Khalid Mahmood was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan:
"There are very, very slim chances they will agree to play in Pakistan. India is the richest cricket board and carries a lot of clout. If they don't send their team to Pakistan I foresee even countries like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh following their path."
While Pakistan were the original hosts of the Asia Cup last year, the Men in Blue refused to play on their soil and had a hybrid model agreed upon where they would play their matches in Sri Lanka.
Khalid Mahmood advises PCB not to adopt tit-for-tat strategy against India
Khalid Mahmood wants the PCB to be smart and not get into a situation where they try to isolate the BCCI. He believes the BCCI's influence would have a negative impact on Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy if a hybrid model is accepted once again.
"Look the thing is at this level you can only lobby and try to convince other boards to be on your side. India has too much clout in the ICC it would do no good for Pakistan to adopt a tit-for-tat strategy. Thing is when the BCCI says it can't send its team and will play its matches outside Pakistan, it does reduce the purpose for Pakistan of hosting an ICC event," he said in the same interaction.
Only time will tell if the BCCI will get approval from the Indian government to send the team to Pakistan or whether another major tournament hosted by Pakistan will be played in a hybrid model.