Delhi: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar recently made a controversial statement, in which he said that India and Virat Kohli are ‘dying’ to play in Pakistan. But, the Indian government is not allowing this. For the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan next year, BCCI wrote a letter to ICC refusing to send the Indian team to Pakistan and demanding adoption of hybrid model for the tournament.
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Akhtar’s big claim
Shoaib Akhtar said on live TV, “India is dying to play here more than Pakistan. Virat Kohli might be desperate to play in Pakistan. I have worked with BCCI in India. If India comes to play in Pakistan, the prices of their TV and sponsorship rights will increase.”
‘The government is stopping us from playing’
In this conversation, former Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez asked Akhtar, “Then why doesn’t India come here?” To this, Akhtar gave a direct reply and said, “Their government is not allowing them to come.”
Signs of consensus on hybrid model
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while talking to the media recently, indicated that the Champions Trophy will be played on the hybrid model. Naqvi said, “I do not want to comment much on this, because it can make things worse. We have presented our position before the ICC, and the Indian side has also expressed its views. The effort is to win cricket. Whatever model is adopted, it will be on equal terms.”
More diplomacy than cricket is seen in the ongoing dispute between the two countries regarding the organization of the Champions Trophy. Now it remains to be seen how this issue is resolved.
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