Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has addressed the potential absence of India from the Champions Trophy 2025, stating that the tournament will proceed without the Indian team if they choose not to participate.
Ali supported the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s stance, emphasising that the event should go ahead as planned, regardless of India’s involvement.
Expressing confidence in the tournament’s success, Ali asserted that cricket will continue even without India. “If we can travel and participate despite security concerns, then the Indian team should also be able to come,” he remarked.
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He also suggested that while Indian players might be eager to play in Pakistan, their participation depends on the decisions made by the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Meanwhile, the BCCI has reiterated its reluctance to send the Indian team to Pakistan. Indian officials have proposed the possibility of a hybrid model or a neutral venue as alternative solutions to facilitate the tournament.
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to begin on February 19, with the final set to be played on March 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
