Rashid Latif drops bombshell on ICC: Why the Champions Trophy shouldn't happen

In a recent statement, Rashid Latif, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has suggested that Pakistan should reconsider participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He has raised concerns about the decisions being made by the BCCI and believes that Pakistan should take a stand before committing to the tournament.

“Pakistan should boycott the Champions Trophy now. Before the BCCI takes this step, PCB should take it. Champions Trophy shouldn’t happen anymore,” quoted by the Times of India, Latif expressed at a gathering that the time has come for Pakistan to adopt a firm position. He couldn’t hide his disappointment while talking about the constant situation of Pakistan being cornered in such political disputes.

“We have always been made scapegoats, be it Afghan war or cricket,” he remarked.

Latif’s remarks come at a time when there’s a cloud of doubt hovering over the 2025 Champions Trophy. This is mainly due to the current standstill situation surrounding the scheduling.

India has sparked interest in a hybrid model due to safety concerns while travelling for the tournament, expected to be held in Pakistan. This suggestion by India led the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to demand the same for every tournament conducted in India. However, India’s controlling cricket authority, the BCCI, has outrightly dismissed the idea of a hybrid model. They underscored that India is not a risky place to visit or play cricket.

According to The Telegraph, the BCCI has staunchly communicated to the ICC that it won’t approve of a hybrid model, further intensifying the current deadlock.

According to the PCB, they won’t be taking part in any forthcoming tournaments in India unless the security issues and political disputes are settled. BCCI representatives, on the other hand, strongly believe that India poses no security risks, thus, there’s no need for such stipulations.