Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh recently supported the reported decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The eight-team event is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeks the government’s approval to visit the country.
Reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the BCCI, that the Indian team will not be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming ICC event.
Further reports claimed that the board has formally proposed Dubai and Sri Lanka as potential venues for hosting India’s matches.
Harbhajan Singh expressed his backing for the decision, citing prominent security concerns in Pakistan. The former player underscored the importance of ensuring the safety and security of Indian players.
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“Why should the Indian team go to Pakistan? There is a safety concern in Pakistan. The situation is such that incidents occur almost daily,” Singh said during an interview with IANS.
“It’s not safe for the team to go there. The BCCI’s stance is absolutely correct—nothing is more important than the safety of our players. I fully support the BCCI’s decision,” he added.
Remember, India refused to travel to Pakistan to participate in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023. As a result, the continental event was held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka stepping in as a co-host.
It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
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