[Watch] "Pakistan kyu nahi aa rahe aap?" - Fan stumps Suryakumar Yadav with 2025 Champions Trophy question
Pakistan are the official host for the upcoming 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, they face a massive challenge, with neighbors India refusing to travel to the country for the multi-nation event due to the tumultuous relationship between the two countries.
The developments have left many Pakistani supporters dejected, leading to a fan even asking Team India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav about India's reluctance to tour Pakistan. The incident took place when Suryakumar was on an outing with his teammates during the Men in Blue's ongoing four-match T20I series in South Africa.
A few fans approached Suryakumar for pictures. The swashbuckling batter obliged and posed for photographs with the group. One of those fans stumped the 34-year-old with his 2025 Champions Trophy question.
The fan can be heard asking:
"Mujhe ek baat bata saktein hai ke Pakistan kyu nahi aa rahe aapT(Tell me why are you not coming to Pakistan)?"
Suryakumar chuckled after hearing the question and responded by saying that it was not in the hands of the players. He replied:
"Arrey bhaiya, hamare hath mein thodi hai (Brother, it is not in our hands)."
You can watch the video below:
It is worth mentioning that Pakistan found themselves in a similar situation during the 2023 Asia Cup. Following India's refusal to play their games on Pakistani soil, a hybrid model was introduced for the continental tournament. As a result, India's matches, including the final, were held in Sri Lanka.
"Pakistan have themselves to blame" - Aakash Chopra on India's refusal to tour Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra opined that Pakistan have themselves to blame for India's unwillingness to travel for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He pointed out how there was a bomb blast at a Quetta railway station very recently.
He also clarified that the BCCI hasn't refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan and it was the Indian government's decision. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-commentator stated:
"It has been decided that India won't go to Pakistan (for Champions Trophy), and this is not the BCCI's decision. Let's make it very, very clear. India's cricket team doesn't decide where and when they will go when we talk about Pakistan. For the other places. it's fine. However, if you are going to Pakistan, it's not the BCCI's but the Indian government's decision."
"They have communicated that they will not give the permission to go there. So India are not going. In a way, they (Pakistan) have themselves to blame. Yesterday only I saw that there was a bomb blast in a railway station in Quetta, and then whatever Pakistan are involved in when we talk about India, especially Kashmir," he added.
It is worth mentioning that the BCCI has communicated to the PCB via an e-mail to confirm that India won't tour Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trohpy.