Pakistan Needs Strong Stand for 2025 Champions Trophy
Indian journalist Shekhar Luthra says Pakistan needs to take a strong stand on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He talked to ARY News, explaining that Pakistan’s decision about India’s participation is very important. According to Luthra, Pakistan should be clear and firm about how they respond to India’s participation and how they plan to host the tournament.
Luthra mentioned that India had made compromises before, like playing in the 2016/17 series and the 2023 World Cup. Now, he believes it is Pakistan’s turn to do the same. He thinks taking a clear stand will help ensure fairness in international cricket. Luthra warned that if both countries don’t find common ground, future tournaments could face problems.
Political Influence in Cricket
Luthra also talked about how politics influences cricket in India. He said the current Indian government uses anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan feelings to get votes. This affects the decisions made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about international cricket events like the Champions Trophy 2025.
Luthra pointed out that Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary and son of a key government figure, has a lot of influence. He believes this makes it hard for Pakistan to work with India in cricket. Luthra warned that if Jay Shah becomes the ICC Chairman, it could make things even more complicated for international cricket, as decisions might be based more on politics than the sport.
The Role of the BCCI
Luthra criticized the BCCI for too much political interference in Indian cricket. He said this has led to a lack of accountability in the team’s performance. He mentioned a recent Test series defeat against New Zealand where the Indian team did not do well. Luthra was disappointed that there were no consequences for the team’s poor performance, blaming the influence of politics and money.
He thinks Indian cricket needs to focus more on the sport itself and less on politics. Luthra believes this will improve the quality of the game in India.
Support for Pakistan
Luthra called on other cricketing nations to support Pakistan in hosting the Champions Trophy 2025. He said the global cricket community should back Pakistan’s efforts to hold the event. Luthra believes this would help reduce the dominance of one nation in cricket and give every cricket-loving country a chance to contribute.
He hopes that there will be enough support to pressure the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure fairness. Luthra wants other cricketing nations to stand by Pakistan and create a more inclusive environment for global cricket events.
Conclusion
Shekhar Luthra’s comments show the challenges of hosting international cricket events when politics are involved. He calls for Pakistan to take a firm stand while also recognizing the need for international cooperation. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a chance for countries to come together, put aside political differences, and focus on cricket. By working together, the cricket community can ensure the success of the tournament and uphold the spirit of the game.