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Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has fervently urged India to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to be held in Pakistan. At a recent event, the esteemed cricketer made a heartfelt appeal for Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play on Pakistani turf, allowing local fans to witness their exceptional skills firsthand.
Khan emphasized his strong wish to see the renowned Indian cricketers, Sharma and Kohli, grace the pitches of Pakistan. He stressed that the passionate fans in Pakistan deserve the opportunity to see these cricketing legends perform live during the forthcoming Champions Trophy in 2025.
Younis Khan urges India to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The former Pakistan captain noted that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have massive fan bases across the border. Reflecting on past tours where Pakistani players were warmly received in India, he expressed hope that a similar reception would await Indian cricketers if they visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Younis acknowledged the complex and often strained political dynamics between India and Pakistan but emphasized his belief that cricket should transcend these issues, acting as a unifying force despite political tensions. He reaffirmed the deep admiration Pakistani fans have for Sharma and Kohli.
His remarks come amid uncertainty over the Champions Trophy 2025, largely due to India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan over security concerns. Younis strongly advocates for keeping politics out of cricket and encourages both teams to engage in reciprocal visits.
Younis Khan makes an emotional plea for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in Pakistan.
Younis Khan said at an event: “India should come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. I wish Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to come here and perform. Rohit already visited Pakistan, but Virat has not yet come here, so I wish he should come for the Champions Trophy 2025. We would love to see them live in Pakistan.
Our people should see them. They have a lot of fan following in Pakistan. When we used to go to India, we used to have a lot of fan following and vice versa. I think the ticket should be there. There are very strong politics between India and Pakistan. There are a lot of problems between our countries. But the fans and players should be neutral. Whenever India gets a chance, they should visit Pakistan, and we should also travel to India for cricket.”
Watch Younis Khan’s plea to India
In the meantime, the BCCI is reportedly advocating for a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy 2025, proposing that India’s matches be played at a neutral venue, similar to the setup for the Asia Cup 2023.
Conversely, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is adamant that the entire tournament should be held in Pakistan. Reports also indicate that India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in a group-stage match.
There’s a strong likelihood that the two teams might face off again in the Super Four stage and potentially in the final, as per PTI’s reports.
