Pakistan To Play Champions Trophy Without India If Necessary: Hasan Ali

Pakistan's fast bowler Hasan Ali has issued a warning to India ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet confirmed if the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the ICC event.

There have been discussions about a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, as BCCI has requested the ICC to move India's matches out of Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 19, with India's games set to be held in Lahore.

In this context, Hasan Ali has made it clear that Rohit Sharma and his team must visit Pakistan or the tournament should proceed without India. He stated, "If we're going there (to India) to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. A lot of people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics."

Ali further elaborated, "But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So, it doesn't mean that the team doesn't want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider," while speaking to Samaa TV.

Echoing PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi's sentiments, Ali reiterated that the Champions Trophy would exclusively take place in Pakistan and dismissed any hybrid model rumours. "As our (PCB) chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan," he added.

"If India doesn't want to come, we'll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India doesn't want to participate, it doesn't mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India," Ali emphasised.

In 2023, Pakistan visited India for the ICC World Cup. However, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, resulting in India's matches being played in Sri Lanka instead. The last time India visited Pakistan was during the Asia Cup in 2008.

The ongoing tension between both cricket boards continues as fans eagerly await a resolution regarding India's participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy.