Kamran Akmal Urges ICC to Postpone India-Pakistan Matches Until Bilateral Series Resumes Amid Champions Trophy Uncertainty
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Mumbai, Nov 30 (NationPress) As the cricketing community eagerly anticipates the International Cricket Council's (ICC) verdict on the Champions Trophy 2025 amidst a standoff between India and Pakistan, former wicketkeeper-batter of Pakistan, Kamran Akmal, has voiced that the ICC should not organize Indo-Pak encounters until bilateral cricket between the two nations resumes.
Akmal emphasized that there should be an absence of matches between India and Pakistan in multi-national events until a sustainable resolution to this matter is achieved. He suggested that if a hybrid model is embraced for the Champions Trophy, it should be consistently applied to all ICC events held in India.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. However, its status has become uncertain following the BCCI's assertion that it lacks consent from the Indian government to travel and participate in matches in Pakistan.
A recent virtual ICC Board meeting, which lasted a mere 15 minutes, ended without resolution as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) maintained its opposition to a hybrid model that would see all India matches, one semifinal, and the final played outside Pakistan.
With a decision on the Champions Trophy imminent, Akmal remarked that it is essential to reach a lasting solution to this ongoing dilemma.
“The ICC must arrive at a conclusion soon, and I believe this is the opportune moment to establish a permanent resolution. If this Champions Trophy adopts a hybrid format with India not visiting Pakistan, then all future ICC events in India should follow the same principle, disallowing Pakistan from touring India,” Kamran stated in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport.
“In my view, another viable solution is that the ICC should refrain from scheduling Indo-Pak matches until a bilateral series is underway. Only when they resume playing each other should we consider matches in multi-national tournaments,” Akmal expressed.
“It is disheartening to witness such circumstances, but enough is enough. Pakistan has visited India despite the 2016 World Cup match being moved from Dharamshala to Kolkata, and Pakistan played in Ahmedabad last year despite existing reservations.
“Pakistan must make a firm decision and adhere to it. This will assist in enhancing Pakistan’s image,” he added.
Akmal criticized India’s stance of not touring Pakistan while expecting them to play in India as a “double standard.”
“On one hand, they refuse to play us in Pakistan citing political reasons, yet on the other hand, they host us in their country. That is a double standard,” Akmal remarked.
Pakistan has not hosted an ICC event since 1996, while India has declined to engage in bilateral cricket with Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attack, attributing it to Pakistan's alleged support for terrorism in India. The last bilateral series between the two nations occurred during the 2012-13 season when Pakistan toured India for a five-match white-ball series.
The Champions Trophy has now become embroiled in this ongoing conflict. Last year, Pakistan was compelled to host the Asia Cup using a hybrid model, with all matches involving India, including a semifinal and the final, taking place in Sri Lanka.
