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'India Has Signed In...' - Ex-Pakistan Cricketer Warns India To Participate In CT 2025

India unlikely to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 (X.com)India unlikely to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 (X.com)

As India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 is hanging in the balance, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif warned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saying that refusing to participate in International Cricket Council (ICC) events could lead to severe repercussions.

The sole hosting rights of the Champions Trophy 2025 remain with Pakistan as PCB has begun preparations for the big ICC event.

As per rumors, PCB has chalked out a tentative schedule for the event, with Indian team games at a single venue in Lahore.

However, BCCI is hesitant to send its troops to Pakistan due to estranged political relations between the two countries. It was reported that the BCCI may ask for a neutral venue in a proposed hybrid model.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif warned India against the idea of opting out of the tournament saying that ignoring an ICC event could lead to severe repercussions.

"You can refuse the bilateral series. But it will be tough to refuse ICC events. When ICC chalk out its plan, the teams know where they have to play, like Pakistan knew that they have to go to India to play the World Cup (2023), and contracts are signed accordingly for cricket boards," said Latif.

Latif argued that India cannot refuse to travel to Pakistan at the last minute after having signed up for the same with ICC prior to the hosting rights distribution. 

And if at all India refuses to participate in the event due to government interference, BCCI will be required to provide logical and acceptable reasons to evade sanctions.

"If India or Pakistan has signed in, they will have to go for that event. If any circumstances occur on a government level, then you have to provide a logical answer as to why not coming. You can refuse the bilateral series citing the conditions in Pakistan are not right etc etc... In my opinion, refusing an ICC event can backfire," he added.

However, the ICC is willing to make an exception if travelling to Pakistan causes a conflict between the BCCI and India's state government.