Shahid Afridi supported Pakistan Cricket Board’s stance against the hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy. (Reuters File/Shahid Afridi X)
Former Pakistan player Shahid Afridi on Thursday accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of ‘intertwining politics with sports’ and supported Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) stance against the hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
“By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball series, post-26/11. It’s time for the ICC and its Board of Directors to uphold fairness and assert their authority,” afridi posted on X.
At a virtual meeting called for by the International Cricket Council to be held on Friday, The Indian Express reported that a hybrid model is likely to be proposed to the PCB for the Champions Trophy which will see India’s three matches, a semifinal and the final to be played in a neutral country.
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
India have intimated to the ICC their refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. PCB wants the entire Champions Trophy to be played at Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. However, fresh tensions rising in Pakistan, which led to Sri Lanka’s cricket board canceling it’s A team tour, is unlikely to help PCB’s stance during the meeting.
On Wednesday night, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had questioned India’s continued refusal to visit the country to play cricket, as the impasse continued over the aforementioned Champions Trophy 2025.
“It is just not possible that while Pakistan keeps on going and playing in India all events the Indian authorities are not willing to send their team to play in Pakistan. We can’t have such an unequal situation,” Naqvi told reporters at the Gaddafi stadium, reported PTI.
