Pakistan’s national cricket team captain, Mohammad Rizwan, says the Pakistani team would warmly welcome the Indian team if they visit Pakistan for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy.
Rizwan remains hopeful that the Indian team will visit Pakistan for the tournament. He said that the decision regarding India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy will be made by the cricket boards of both countries.
While talking to the media in Brisbane, Mohammad Rizwan further expressed that playing against Australia in Australia is never easy. But he is confident the team will make the right choices to ensure Pakistan’s success.
Regarding the playing XI, Rizwan mentioned that discussions have taken place, but some details are confidential.
He also praised senior players like Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Shadab Khan. Rizwan acknowledged their contributions to Pakistan cricket over the years, which cannot be easily replaced.
When asked about head coach Jason Gillespie, Rizwan highlighted his hard work and dedication. Despite being from Australia, Gillespie has played a key role in keeping the team united and focused on their goals.
Pakistan letter to ICC
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a letter to the ICC, has asked for the reasons behind the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in the country next year.
Some media reports also suggest that Pakistan will boycott playing against India in all tournaments if India does not come to Pakistan.
Despite the scheduling challenges and political tensions, the ICC’s delegation plans to visit Lahore from November 10-12 to assess tournament preparations and discuss the way forward with local officials.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and one more team—will compete for the Champions Trophy. For the tournament, these teams will be split into two groups.
