Should India go to Pakistan to play Champions Trophy?

 

Should India go to Pakistan to play Champions trophy?

ICC has allotted Pakistan to be the host for  Champions Trophy in February 2025 . But security of Indian team in Pakistan is the main issue. I have heard that some of the senior players do not want to go but they find it hard to say it publicly. Since I have started to watch cricket ( from 2009 onwards) Indian cricket team  has never been to Pakistan to play any match, however Pakistan has  come to India to play a few times and recently last year to play the world cup .These 2 nations play only in ICC tournaments or in Asia cup .

What I find inspiring are the stories I have  heard about the two teams  like  once when Virender Sehwag had gone to shop for a pair of shoes in Pakistan , the shopkeeper refused to take any money from him. Also what Javed Miandad calls ‘the best tour of his team’ when during the Bangalore test both the teams were staying in the same hotel and celebrated ‘Holi’ together. They put colors on each other and  threw Ravi Shastri  in the pool and had great fun together.  Whenever Pakistan players have come to India they have always received a very warm welcome for eg in 1999 during Chennai test match when Pakistan had won against India , the  crowd appreciated and applauded them whole heartedly . In the previous year when again Pakistan team had come to India to play ODI  world cup in Hyderabad they were given a very warm welcome by the crowd at the airport. Despite the issues between the 2 countries the entire world including the Pakistan media was praising the Indians . Pakistan team despite their poor performance in the world cup enjoyed their stay in India just like any tourists eating delicacies like Hyderabadi famous biryani etc.

If BCCI president Mr Jayesh shah gets the approval from Indian government only then can the Indian team go or else Indian team matches have to be held in one of the neutral nations like Dubai or Sri lanka. Indian cricket board has a key role in ICC ( to generate revenue) so it  will have to find a way out . The ICC chairman has to keep Indian point of view in mind although everything cannot happen according to the Indian cricket board .

In  my view if Indian cricket board and the Indian government gives the approval to go to Pakistan then I think for security purpose they should take Indian army personnel as their bodyguards and history will be created. It will be a treat for fans from both sides.

I think  we the  millennials have only heard tales of India going on a tour to Pakistan but have never witnessed the same. If it is not possible then India and Pakistan should play more in neutral venues because it is important that these 2 Asian giants should keep playing as that is what makes the game interesting. Players of both countries have due respect for each others' spirit of cricket. These players despite of the  political tension are almost like friends of the field.

I would like to make a personal request to the ICC chairman and BCCI president Mr Jayesh shah that if in case it is not possible for India to go to Pakistan then arrangements should be made to organize all the matches of India to be played in a neutral venue like Dubai as geographically it is most convenient.