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'India Would Suggest Playing In Pakistan' - Ex Prime Minister On Champions Trophy 2025

Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma (Source:@/_FaridKhan,x.com)Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma (Source:@/_FaridKhan,x.com)

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for the revival of cricket diplomacy between Pakistan and India, and urged Rohit Sharma and Co to visit Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Indian journalists, Sharif emphasized the need for both countries to move beyond their bitter past and work towards normalising relations through sports and diplomacy.

Nawaz Sharif Wants India To Visit Pakistan

Sharif expressed optimism about the potential for improved ties between the two neighbours, pointing to the recent visit of Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit as a positive sign. 

“If you ask the Indian cricket team, they would also suggest playing in Pakistan. Despite they are ready to play, however, those who have power to allow them don’t grant them permission,” he told the journalists. 

"The SCO conference could mark a good start for Pakistan-India relations. A lot could improve if Pakistan-India ties are restored. If you ask the Indian team, I am sure they would also say they want to come and play in Pakistan. However, Nawaz acknowledged that the past has been bitter. Let's see what the future holds," he remarked.

The former Prime Minister further noted that the presence of Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar at the SCO summit, the first visit by an Indian official to Pakistan in nearly a decade, was a significant diplomatic step. 

Will India Play The Champions Trophy In Pakistan?

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012, and political tensions have kept the two teams from meeting outside of ICC and Asia Cup events. The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup, and since then, the possibility of India travelling to Pakistan for any series has been clouded by uncertainty.

Pakistan is scheduled to host the Champions Trophy in 2025, marking the first time the country will host a major ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. 

However, doubts linger over whether India will participate, given the strained relations between the two nations. The ICC is reportedly considering multiple options for the tournament, including hosting the event entirely in Pakistan, using a hybrid model where India’s matches are held in Dubai, or relocating the tournament to a neutral venue, such as Sri Lanka or South Africa.