If India doesn't want to come, we'll play ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without them: Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali added that sports should always stay away from politics.

Pakistan are all set to host the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February to March. Recently, it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted the first draft for the upcoming tournament to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

As per the draft schedule proposed by the PCB, the Champions Trophy 2025 will see a total of eight teams including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. The PCB also proposed that the much-awaited Indo-Pak math will be played on March 1 in Lahore.

After PCB submitted the first draft for the upcoming eight-nation tournament, many reports revealed that a few matches might shift to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Sri Lanka. The report further added that a hybrid model might be used to host India’s matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025.

Sports should stay away from politics: Hasan Ali

India and Pakistan haven’t played any bilateral series since 2012–13 due to political tensions between the two nations as well as cross-border terrorism from Pakistan’s militant groups. Since then, the two arch-rivals have played only in ICC events and Asia Cups.

Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy. The Men in Green defeated India in the last edition’s final in 2017.

Reacting to all the recent reports of India not traveling to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC tournament, Men in Green pacer Hasan Ali expressed his thoughts and said that sports should stay away from politics. Hasan further said that if Pakistan can travel to India to play, then they should also travel Pakistan.

“If we’re going to India to play, then they should come to Pakistan too. Many people have said countless times that sports should stay away from politics. But if you look at it from another angle, many Indian players have said in interviews that they want to play in Pakistan. So, it doesn’t mean that the team doesn’t want to come; they definitely do. But obviously, they have their own policies, country, and board to consider,” Hasan Ali said on Samaa TV.

The right-arm pacer Ali further added that if India doesn’t want to come, then they will host the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament without them. “As our (PCB) chairman has already said, if the Champions Trophy is going to be held in Pakistan, then it will be in Pakistan. If India doesn’t want to come, we’ll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan, and if India doesn’t want to participate, it doesn’t mean cricket has ended. There are many other teams besides India.”

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