(Source X)
Former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has expressed his desire for the Indian cricket team to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be held at three venues—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—from February 19 to March 9. India last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup and has not returned since due to strained political relations between the two nations.
Akmal, 42, who traveled with the Pakistani team to India for the 2011 ODI World Cup and the white-ball series in 2012-13, questioned why India cannot visit Pakistan when teams like Australia have managed to do so. He believes that cricket should remain separate from politics.
“I consider myself lucky that I travelled to India and played several series, both home and away. I really enjoyed those times. India should travel to Pakistan, and Pakistan should go to India. Let’s keep the political matters aside and play and love cricket,” Akmal was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
“When a team like Australia can visit Pakistan, why not India? The India-Pakistan bilateral series should happen. Both governments need to sit and talk. This will benefit cricket,” he added.
Kamran is concerned that if India does not travel to Pakistan next year, the ICC Champions Trophy might be relocated, and he hopes the BCCI will prevent this from happening.
“Pehle aapne Asia Cup le liya, ab Champions Trophy ki baatein kar rahe hain. Kyun kar rahe hain aap aisa? (First you took away the Asia Cup from Pakistan; now talking about the Champions Trophy, why?) … Pakistan has done a lot of hard work to bring cricket back to the country. If India invites Pakistan, our government will never stop us. They will say, ‘Go and play.’ The Indian government should do the same. Let’s keep politics aside and play cricket.”
The former cricketer, who participated in numerous India-Pakistan matches during his career, lauded Indian fans, describing them as the best in the world.
“India vs Pakistan matches bring fans together. That’s why it’s known as the mother of all clashes. We toured India several times. We received so much love from India and a lot of support. There is no doubt that the home team always gets support from its home crowd, but we also got the same kind of support. Indian fans showered us with love whenever the Pakistan team, including me, stepped out of the hotel room, I mean, off the field. If any team wants to play good cricket or enjoy the game, please visit India. Indian fans are the best in the world,” Akmal said.
