Union Sports Minister Sports Minister delivered a bold response to a question about whether Team India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Pakistan was given the right by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to host the Champions Trophy, slated to take place in February-March 2025.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been constantly pushing and insisting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send Team India to the neighbouring country for the Champions Trophy but the board hasn't expressed their willingness to participate in the tournament hosted by Pakistan.
During the public debate hosted by News24, Anurag Thakur, former BCCI President, said that India should be allowed to travel to Pakistan only when the neighbouring country carry out terror activities.
"It is up to the BCCI to decide. When I was the BCCI president, I had said that two things cannot happen at a single time. When you spread terrorism in India and talking about playing cricket in Pakistan, these two things can't happen simultaneously. First stop carrying out terror activities in India." Anurag Thakur said.
"The day Pakistan stop terrorism in India, India will go to Pakistan and play cricket. This is my opinion." he added.
Since 2008, India haven't visited Pakistan to play any bilateral series or multi-nation tournament. Pakistan was supposed to host the Asia Cup 2023 but BCCI refusal to Indian cricket team to the neighbouring country, the tournament was hosted in a hydrid format, with India playing all the matches in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan face against each other in multi-nation tournament
India and Pakistan only lock horns with each other in the multi-nation tournament rather than the bilateral series. The last two arch-rivals faced against each other in the bilateral series was in 2012-13, which include 3 ODIs and 2 T20is.
Pakistan travelled to India for the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2016 T20 World Cup. After seven years, the Men in Blue toured India for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Whereas India never toured to neighbouring country since 2008.
India and Pakistan will lock horns in the T20 World Cup 2024, slated to take place in West Indies and USA. The high-volatile clash will take place at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York's East Meadows on June 9.
