UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshali said that the UAE is ready to host a blockbuster cricket match between the two arch-rivals India and Pakistan amid the ongoing uncertainty over the ICC Champions Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made its stand clear about not traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. On the other hand, PCB is determined to host the entire tournament in Pakistan.
In the latest development, sources told Geo News on Sunday that a new formula has been made under which India will play all its ICC matches, which are to be played in Pakistan, in Dubai. Along with this, Pakistan will also play its matches in Dubai which are to be played in India. According to Geo News, this formula will be applicable for the next three years starting from Champions Trophy 2025.
With discussions on the best possible way to host the tournament, Abdulnasser Alshali expressed his desire to host the action-packed encounter in the UAE. “Why wouldn’t we? We have always hosted such Games. We will continue to host such Games. The UAE is open for business and open for sports,” UAE Ambassador Abdulnasser Alshali told ANI, when asked Asked whether the UAE would be willing to host. India and Pakistan Champions Trophy match.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday held a meeting with all members to decide on the fate of the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan next year.
On Saturday, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PPCB), Mohsin Naqvi, maintained Pakistan’s stance and rejected the idea of holding the tournament in a hybrid model, while suggesting that a new formula could be created.
“We will do what is best for cricket. It is certainly not a hybrid formula, but if a new formula is made, it will be a similar formula. We will not allow unilateral decisions (…) Decisions should be taken on the basis of equality,” Naqvi told reporters in Dubai on Saturday, as quoted from a video posted by PCB media on Twitter.
Due to strained political relations between the two countries, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in India in 2012–13, consisting of white-ball matches. After that, India and Pakistan have mainly faced each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.
Last Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had cited BCCI’s statement regarding “security concerns”. During the press conference, Jaiswal said that it was “unlikely” that the Indian team would cross the border to play in Pakistan.
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