There is a palpable sense of anticipation and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, with former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif weighing in on the matter. As the cricketing world looks forward to the return of this prestigious tournament after an eight-year hiatus, all eyes are on whether India will make the historic trip to Pakistan, the designated host nation for the event.
Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has candidly shared his belief that there is a fifty percent chance that India will journey to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025. This assertion comes amid heightened interest and speculation, given that the last instance of India playing on Pakistan soil was back in 2008. The stakes are high, not just for the cricketing fraternity, but for the diplomatic relations between the two cricket-crazy nations as well.
India’s participation in the tournament has been shrouded in doubt, particularly after they opted out of traveling to Pakistan for the 2023 ODI Asia Cup. The regional tournament was eventually held in a hybrid model, which only further fueled speculation about India’s willingness to cross the border for cricket.
In a recent broadcast on his YouTube channel, Latif elaborated on his perspective. He posited that the recent unopposed election of Jay Shah as the ICC chairman could be a crucial indicator. Shah, who has garnered significant support, including from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is the fifth Indian to hold this prestigious position. “If Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the ICC chairman, it means that the PCB has also provided its support,” said Latif. Providing an optimistic yet cautious prediction, he added, “There is fifty percent confirmation that India is coming to Pakistan.”
Jay Shah’s tenure as BCCI secretary since 2019 and his leadership of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) since 2021 have earned him a reputation for effective governance and strategic thinking in the cricketing world. Upon his elevation to the ICC’s top post, Shah emphasized the importance of expanding cricket’s global footprint, making the sport more inclusive and popular than ever before.
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In his acceptance speech, Shah remarked, “I am humbled by the nomination as the Chair of the International Cricket Council. I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalize cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”
Shah’s vision also extends to a significant milestone for cricket—the inclusion of the sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “While we will build on the valuable lessons learned, we must also embrace fresh thinking and innovation to elevate the love for cricket worldwide. The inclusion of our sport in the Olympics at LA 2028 represents a significant inflection point for the growth of cricket, and I am confident that it will drive the sport forward in unprecedented ways,” he added.
Latif expressed admiration for Shah’s contributions to cricket, underscoring the chairman’s efforts to benefit the sport at both the ICC and BCCI levels. “Jay Shah’s work has so far been beneficial for cricket, be it for the BCCI or ICC,” Latif articulated during his YouTube session, lending further credence to hopes that India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 might indeed materialize.
As the cricketing calendar marches forward, the potential visit of the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy will remain a focal point of discussion. Both nations, along with the global cricket community, await developments with bated breath. The successful execution of such a tour would not only be a significant cricketing event but also a momentous stride in fostering sportsmanship and diplomacy through the beloved game of cricket.
In the meantime, the build-up to the Champions Trophy 2025 continues, promising a tournament filled with high stakes, competitive spirit, and the hope that cricket’s rich traditions can bridge divides and bring people together, irrespective of national borders.
