Pakistan responds in-kind to India’s refusal to play ICC Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has decided to respond to India’s refusal to play ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, in a commensurate manner.

Government sources have informed that Pakistan is going to take a strict stand on the issue of India not sending their cricket players for the upcoming tournament. If India maintains its stance on the Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will not play cricket with India on any platform including T20 World Cup 2026, sources said.

Pakistan’s bowlers shine, reducing Australia to 118/7 in series finale

Pakistan will not play India until the bilateral relations have been resolved, the government has decided.

Pakistan has completed all the preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy. All the participating teams have visited Pakistan before and are prepared to come for the upcoming tournament as well. Therefore, there is no justification for India to back out.

ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, no hybrid model will be accepted. Government sources added.

The government of Pakistan has also decided to write a letter against India’s bid for Olympics 2036. The letter will ask for cricket to be included in the 2036 Olympic games, sources said.

The sources also said that if India refuses to come to Pakistan, then the Pakistani players will also not go to India for any games.

“India should not bring politics into sports” is Pakistan’s stance for this issue, sources said.

The Internation Cricket Council (ICC) informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the Indian team not coming to Pakistan through a short email, government sources said.

I was lucky to get Maxwell’s wicket thrice in the series, says Haris Rauf

If India does not participate in the Champions Trophy 2025, the tournament would face a 6 per cent loss in revenue, due to the large cricket fanbase of the country, and corresponding viewership, sponsorship, and ticket sales. However, despite not having a similar sized fanbase, Pakistan’s absence from the tournament is still likely to incur a 30 per cent loss, sources said.

These losses are also accounting the revenues from broadcasting rights as well as general viewership metrics. Both Pakistan and India are high-profile teams, and absence of either is certain to dent the tournament’s success.