Shane Watson, a former Australian cricketer, has called the BCCI’s decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 as unfortunate. He shared his view on India not travelling to Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy Tour in Sydney.
Watson Feels it’s Unfortunate
The all-rounder stressed on the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan, and the matches between these two sides always deliver something special.
“It’s unfortunate that things have worked out that way. There’s no doubt that what everyone loves seeing, and watching, is the India-Pakistan games,” Watson said in the press conference.
“Whenever they come together, whether it’s an ICC event, it is a special time because we’ve got a sense of what’s on the line. To know how big a rivalry it is between India and Pakistan is always something special. No cricket fan wants to miss that game. It is unfortunate that India isn’t travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” he further added.
Apart from that, Watson also shared his previous experience of playing cricket in Pakistan. The Australian featured in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2019.
Reflecting on that outing, Watson said: “I got a small opportunity to play in the Pakistan Super League in 2019, the first time after playing there in 2005. It was one of the highlights of my career. To go to Pakistan after a long time and see the love and joy they have for cricket was incredible. They were starved of world-class live cricket.”
India to Play their Matches in Dubai
After a long standoff, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed that the Champions Trophy 2025 will have a hybrid model in place. Pakistan will host most of the games while India’s matches will take place in Dubai.
This has deprived Pakistan of hosting India for a major cricketing event due to strained political relations between both nations. The Champions Trophy will kick off on February 9, 2025, with eight teams participating in the 50-over event.
The Men in Blue will start their campaign on December 20, taking on Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Their next two games will be against Pakistan (Feb 23) and New Zealand (Mar 2).
The competition will conclude on March 9, with the provision to host the final in Dubai if India qualify for it.
