Former Pakistan captain and legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi has unleashed a scathing assault on the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 drama. The legendary cricketer accused the Indian cricket board of jeopardizing worldwide cricket by “intertwining politics with sports activities.”
Shahid Afridi, who is thought for his outspoken nature, voiced his sturdy opposition to the hybrid mannequin for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which has triggered a battle between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC).
Shahid Afridi slams BCCI over ICC Champions Trophy 2025, accuses India of blending politics with cricket
The legendary all-rounder has additional argued that the choice to shift India’s matches away from Pakistan could be a direct affect of the political interference from the Indian authorities, which might ultimately undermine the spirit of the sport.
Moreover, Shahid Afridi expressed his unwavering help for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) stance in opposition to the hybrid mannequin whereas highlighting the hypocrisy of the state of affairs. He identified that regardless of safety issues, Pakistan has toured India a number of occasions for the reason that 26/11 assaults, together with a bilateral white-ball sequence.
However India has been repeatedly refusing to cross the border, and on account of this, Pakistan needed to host the Asia Cup 2023 in a hybrid mannequin, with the Males in Inexperienced enjoying their video games in Sri Lanka. And now the BCCI needs the identical association for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, citing safety fears, which is completely unfair.
BCCI has positioned worldwide cricket in a precarious place: Shahid Afridi
The previous all-rounder has additionally known as on the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) and its Board of Administrators to take a powerful stand and uphold the ideas of equity in cricket, warning that permitting such political affect would set a harmful instance for the way forward for the sport.
Shahid Afridi posted on his X deal with on Thursday: “By intertwining politics with sports activities, the BCCI has positioned worldwide cricket in a precarious place. Absolutely help the PCB’s stance in opposition to the hybrid mannequin—particularly since Pakistan (regardless of safety issues) has toured India 5 occasions, together with a bilateral white-ball sequence, post-26/11. It is time for the ICC and its Board of Administrators to uphold equity and assert their authority.”
By intertwining politics with sports activities, the BCCI has positioned worldwide cricket in a precarious place. Absolutely help the PCB’s stance in opposition to the hybrid mannequin – particularly since Pakistan (regardless of safety issues) has toured India 5 occasions, together with a bilateral white-ball… pic.twitter.com/Xl4YBhCWuB
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 28, 2024
Hybrid format is the most suitable choice to unravel India-Pakistan drama: ICC
The ICC is all set to conduct an internet assembly on Friday, November 29, to resolve the destiny of the eight-nation match, and it’s being stated that the PCB is agreed on the hybrid mannequin, however there is no such thing as a affirmation relating to the identical. Nonetheless, ICC left Pakistan with just one choice relating to the occasion.
An ICC supply was quoted as saying to PTI information company, “At this level, the hybrid format is the most suitable choice. We hope that every one the events concerned will take a smart name for the sake of the match. It’s not good for the match to have it with out India and Pakistan.”
Notably, Reliance and Star Sports activities have just lately joined forces to create a brand new entity named ‘JioStar.’ On account of this merger, whereas the internet hosting rights for the ICC match stay with Star Sports activities, the 2025 Champions Trophy will mark the primary main occasion to be broadcast below the ‘JioStar’ model.