"Virat Kohli Trying To Play In Pakistan...": Amid Champions Trophy Stand-Off, Pace Great's Stunning Insight
NDTV
The BCCI has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team won't be travelling to Pakistan, the designated hosts, for the Champions Trophy.
The puzzle surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 host venue is showing no signs of getting solved. Will it be held in Pakistan, or a hybrid model will be followed, or it will be completely shifted out of Pakistan? These are the three questions that have been the talking points in world cricket in recent past. It all started when the BCCI informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team won't be travelling to Pakistan, the designated hosts, for the Champions Trophy.
Since then, the PCB have shown a hard stance that a hybrid model is not acceptable to them. Now, Pakistan pace great Shoaib Akhtar has given his take on the issue.
"There will be back channel talks. Even in days of war there is back channel talks. We should not lose hope. We have to look forward to a solution. We know a fact that 95-96 per cent of sponsorship for ICC comes from India," Shoaib Akhtar said in an interview.
"It's really up to the governments. It's nothing to do with the BCCI. Virat Kohli is trying to play in Pakistan for the first time. Pakistan wants to see Virat play in Pakistan. Imagine him scoring a century in Pakistan. It will be a full circle for him. Pakistan has got a tag that it cannot host big tournaments like World Cup. If this (Champions Trophy) happens it will be a stepping stone for bigger events. I don't think this will happen. Keeping the fingers crossed. Wait till the last moment. I think currently, as of now, India is coming to Pakistan."
This year so far, Virat has only scored 250 runs in 12 Test innings, across six matches at an average of 22.72. He doesn't have a single Test ton to his name this year.
Earlier this month, the BCCI made it clear to the ICC that it won't send the national team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and wants its games to be held in a third country
India vs Malaysia Highlights: India drew 1-1 against Malaysia in their international friendly football match at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
Jannik Sinner says he still has areas where he can improve next year after winning the ATP Finals for the first time Sunday to cap a near-perfect season for the world number one.
Australia vs Pakistan 3rd T20I, Live Updates: Pakistan stand-in skipper Agha Salman won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the third and final T20I on Monday.
"He Must Play": Sourav Ganguly Fires Warning To Gautam Gambhir Over Snubbing India Veteran For Perth
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is convinced that seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin "must play" in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series opener against Australia
Australia have not beaten India home or away in a Test series since the 2014/15 tour Down Under.
Few hours before this blockbuster fight, the fans were taken aback after a fake script of the match got surfaced on social media.
Netherlands outclassed Hungary with a 4-0 victory in their winner-takes-all Nations League encounter on Saturday
Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal is aiming to cap his emotional farewell from tennis with another Davis Cup triumph in Malaga next week.
Virat Kohli scored 15 and 30 not-out during his two outings in the simulation game. But, struggled quite a lot against short-pitched bowling.