'Cricketing world depends upon India-Pakistan match' - Rashid Latif on arch-rivals' participation in Champions Trophy 2025

The bitter relations between India and Pakistan governments have abstained from the Indian cricket team's travel to the neighbour nation after the Asia Cup in 2008. Now, ever since Pakistan was earmarked as the venue for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, there have been countless discussions on India and their participation at the eight-team tournament. A 'hybrid model' is also expected to be adopted for hosting 2017 runners-up matches outside Pakistan.

Ex-Pakistan cricketer, Rashid Latif, has also joined the discussion. He was of the opinion that regardless of the venue, the two nations will definitely end up playing against each other due to various crucial aspects being linked to the fixture between the arch-rivals.

"As for the new scenario, political narratives keep getting made. See, both teams will certainly play. I don’t know where, but both teams will surely play against each other. There are a lot of things at stake. Broadcasters have a lot at stake. There’s some 3 billion at stake. So, there’s no way they will say that it’s ok for India and Pakistan to not play against each other," Latif told Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, as quoted by Cricblog.

He shared that according to him, the two respective administrative bodies along with the ICC will end up making sure that the competition gets conducted anyhow.

"I feel that the Pakistan Cricket Board will also somehow agree and come to a conclusion on where to play and what to do. This is because the cricketing world depends on it. The cricketing world depends on the India-Pakistan match. So in my opinion, it will happen. I don’t know where but the PCB, BCCI and ICC will surely plan something. Other people can make a fool out of the audience, but they will certainly play," the former cricketer added.

Also Read: Pakistan appoint Wahab Riaz as supervisor for Champions Trophy 2025

This is an ICC tournament and everyone has to play: Latif

The 56-year-old further elaborated that after all, the tournament was of a global and esteemed stature, and that it has been designed the same way for each and every participant.

"See, in bilateral games and tournaments like the Asia Cup, it’s all ok if India or Pakistan don’t participate, but this is an ICC tournament and everyone has to play. This opportunity has come after a long time. I mean, after a long time, India has to come to Pakistan to play an ICC tournament. This has been approved from all the cricket boards in the world, the ICC, all the authorities including India are included," the Karachi-born added.

For the unversed, the marquee event next year will be the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.