The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barclay is confident that India and all other teams will have no problem to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Also Read:- Shahrukh Khan hits a last ball six to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Tamil Nadu
Last week the ICC awarded the hosting rights of the 2025 edition of Champions Trophy to Pakistan. This will mark a return of major cricketing events in Pakistan after more than two decades.
The last time an ICC event was held in Pakistani soil was way back in 1996. Pakistan were the co hosts of the tournament along with Sri Lanka and India. The country has been unable to host international matches since the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.
Pakistan are the defending champions having won the trophy in 2017.
“The answer is, from what we can see so far, absolutely (teams will travel),” ICC chairman Greg Barclay said on Monday.
“ICC cricket event is coming back to Pakistan after many years. All of it with the exception of what happened in the last few weeks has gone ahead without any any issues at all,” added Barclay, who was joined by new ICC CEO Geoff Allardice.
Earlier this year in September, New Zealand and England pulled themselves out of the bilateral series against Pakistan citing security reasons. Greg Barclay added that the ICC wouldn’t have given the hosting rights to Pakistan if they weren’t confident.
Also Read:- This former cricketer is the new CEO of ICC
“So, we wouldn’t have awarded the event if we didn’t think the Pakistan were capable of hosting it. “We think it’s an exciting opportunity, a prospect for them to be able to host a world’s event for the first time for a period of quite a period of time.”
“It’s not until 2025 and I’m sure that they will, as all countries are required to do, put together the appropriate security plans and assurances to ensure that they can been as delivered.
“So yes, we were comfortable and confident that we’ll go ahead,” Barclay added.
India and Pakistan do not meet each other in a bilateral series due to geo-political series since 2012. Anurag Thakur who is currently the sports minister said last week that team India’s participation in the marquee event will be decided when time comes.
Greg Barclay addressed the issue and said that it will be challenging enough to convince India to participate in the tournament but it will surely improve the relations between the two countries.
“We know that it is particularly challenging issue to work through. I mean, from my point of view, I can’t control geopolitical forces are working on what we do.
“But I just hope that cricket can be forced to perhaps help improve relationships between them.
‘One of the great things that sport can do is to help to bring people in nations together. So, if we can do something and in a small way to contribute to that, then that’s fantastic,” he added.
Also Read:- This player has taken all 10 wickets in a first class game