As the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy approaches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself at a crossroads due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) refusal to send its team to Pakistan. Despite the ICC granting Pakistan the hosting rights, India’s reluctance to travel has created uncertainty, delaying the finalization of the tournament schedule.
The PCB has categorically rejected the idea of a neutral venue or a hybrid model, asserting its right to host the event in Pakistan. This principled stance stems from Pakistan’s commitment to upholding the ICC’s decision and its dedication to successfully organizing a global cricketing event.
The PCB officials believe that India’s refusal is less about security concerns and more about undermining Pakistan’s ability to host international events. “This is not a matter of ego but a matter of principle,” said a PCB official. The board remains steadfast in its position, prepared to bear potential financial losses if India opts out.
The PCB has emphasised that the absence of India from the Champions Trophy will neither end Pakistan cricket nor halt the global cricketing ecosystem. Instead of pleading for India’s participation, Pakistan is focused on ensuring the tournament’s success without compromising its sovereignty or hosting rights.
Should India continue its unreasonable stance, Pakistan may refuse to play its matches in India during the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This reciprocal measure emphasises Pakistan’s resolve to stand firm against undue pressure.
This is not the first instance of India’s negative approach. During the recently concluded Asia Cup, initially awarded to Pakistan, India’s objections forced a hybrid hosting model with matches shifted to Sri Lanka. Similarly, India’s resistance to participating in Pakistan-hosted events has consistently created challenges for regional cricket.
Despite the uncertainty, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a flawless Champions Trophy. The tournament is set to be staged across three venues in Pakistan, with comprehensive security measures planned for players, officials, and spectators. The PCB has allocated significant resources to meet security requirements and aims to provide foolproof arrangements. Pakistan’s efforts highlight its commitment to hosting a world-class event and promoting cricket in the region.
The PCB has urged the ICC to take a decisive stand in resolving the matter. As the governing body of international cricket, the ICC’s role is crucial in maintaining the integrity of its tournaments and ensuring equitable treatment for all member nations.
Pakistan has consistently extended cooperation to India in past events, including the recent Cricket World Cup in India, where Pakistan participated without raising objections. It is now time for the ICC to address India’s resistance and safeguard the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
´Star is born´: From homeless to Test hero for India´s Jaiswal
NEW DELHI: India´s Perth Test hero Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit a stunning century on Sunday, rose to stardom from being homeless and selling snacks on the streets to finance his cricketing ambitions.The 22-year-old opening batsman turned an overnight 90 into 161 on day three in the opening match of the five-Test series against Australia.
It was his fourth ton in his 15th Test.
He hit 171 last year on his debut against the West Indies, off a gruelling 387 deliveries over more than eight hours at the crease in Dominica.
He smacked two double centuries against visiting England earlier this year.
The attacking left-handed batsman burst into the consciousness of cricket-mad India with a stellar showing in the Indian Premier League last year.
He was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals in the 2019 IPL auction and last season made one half of a fearsome opening pair with England´s white-ball captain Jos Buttler, amassing 625 runs with a strike rate of more than 163.
After his latest heroics, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said it was all the more special because he had “come the hard way”.
The batting great called Jaiswal a “wonderful role model for those who come from the villages to the cities”, showing how if “you work hard, you´re dedicated, you have a dream, you can fulfil it”.
“This boy is a man,” Gavaskar said in his commentary show.English commentator Mark Nicholas said: “This innings will announce him as a star is really born.”
Jaiswal dreamed of playing for India and moved to the financial capital Mumbai at just 11 years old, leaving his parents back home in their village.
“I used to sleep in a dairy and then stayed at my uncle´s place, but it wasn´t big enough and he asked me to find a different place,” Jaiswal told AFP in an interview in 2020.
“I then started to stay in a tent near Azad Maidan” -- a field considered the birthplace of cricket in India -- “and would play cricket there during the day”.