“If Pakistan fails to bring India on its soil…” Pakistan Great gives a Shocking verdict on ICC champions trophy saga

India’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy 2025 has raised so many eyebrows. Though doubts over their travel arrangements were expressed previously, India has however made it clear that they will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. There were proposals of a hybrid model such that India plays its games in Dubai but it was rejected by Pakistan. As of now, with both the Board of Cricket Control in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board Papua New Guinea holding to their positions, the outlook remains bleak and so the status of the tournament remains unclear. Notable Pakistan ex fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar however played down the contention and issued a serious threat to both the PCB and ICC reminding them that there will be a $100 million loss thanks to their disarray when it comes to India’s participation.

“If Pakistan fails to bring India on its soil, or at least to a neutral location, it is both a win and a loss situation for them, because: one. The tournament is worth roughly $100 million and is generated from the sponsors that the ICC and the host nation receive. And two. It will be far better if India comes here (to Pakistan), plays in Lahore, and regardless of whether they win or lose, it’s all good,” said the furious Shoaib Akhtar on Pakistani television.

The T20 World Cup will not see participation from the Indian blind cricket team as the government has refused permission to travel to Pakistan for security reasons, the national federation said in a statement Tuesday.

The Indian team was expected to pass the Wagah border on Wednesday to take part in the event, planned from November 23 to December 3.

The team had received a No Objection Certificate (NOC), without any charge to the government, from the sports ministry to take part in the championship but seemingly could not obtain it from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“We have been informally advised that the blind team shall not travel to Pakistan. We were supposed to leave for Wagah border tomorrow.

“But as of now, there has been no clearance from the ministry officials. So, we are a little distressed,” Shailendra Yadav, General Secretary of cricket association for the blind in India (CABI) told PTI.

Yadav lamented that such information could have been given to the team a bit earlier, so that they would have been spared the trouble of going through the selection process to pick some players from.

“They are saying in the cricket structure when the normal team is not secured, how can you be secured there. Certainly that decision will be respected

“But why wait for the last minute to make the decision, why not make it known to us one month ago or twenty five days ago. There is a procedure,” Yadav said.

The blind cricket team is still in New Delhi, where they held a 25-day training camp before the World Cup team was picked.