ICC Champions Trophy 2025: "We will welcome them.." Mohammad Rizwan hopeful of Indian stars playing in Pakistan

Mohammad Rizwan’s team recently won an ODI series in Australia.

Following Pakistan’s historic ODI series win in Australia, white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan spoke about the ongoing saga regarding the Indian cricket team and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan are the host for next year’s Champions Trophy but the tournament is likely to be played in a hybrid model after the Indian government denied sending the Men In Blue unit to Pakistan.

Last Friday, the PCB was told by the ICC that the Indian government had not permitted the Indian team to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB has retaliated by asking the ICC to provide a written confirmation from the BCCI, including the reason.

“KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav are all welcome”: Mohammad Rizwan

Speaking from Brisbane on Wednesday, Rizwan, under whom Pakistan recorded an international series win in Australia after 22 years, said that Pakistan will welcome the Indian cricket stars with whole heart but added that ultimately the decision lies in the hands of the decision-makers.

“KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav are all welcome. All the players who will come, we will welcome them. This is not our decision, this is PCB’s decision. Whatever decision will take place, hopefully they will all discuss and take the right call. But we are hopeful that if the Indian players will come, we will welcome them,” Rizwan said.

The ICC has reportedly earmarked UAE and Sri Lanka as venues to host India’s matches should they not travel to Pakistan. However, the PCB, for now, is unrelenting in its stand on this issue. A senior PCB official told ESPNcricinfo that there is “no chance” of a hybrid model being considered for the Champions Trophy 2025.

During the Asia Cup 2023, whose host was Pakistan but it was played in a hybrid model, India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka.

India’s last visit to Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup. After that, the Pakistan cricket team travelled to India thrice – in 2012/13 for bilateral series, in 2016 for the T20 World Cup and in 2023 for the ODI World Cup.

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