Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of jeopardizing international cricket by intertwining politics with sports.
Afridi has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its Board of Directors to take decisive action to ensure fairness in the sport.
Shahid Afridi took to social media platform X to express his concerns, stating,
By intertwining politics with sports, the BCCI has placed international cricket in a precarious position. Fully support the PCB’s stance against the hybrid model – especially since Pakistan (despite security concerns) has toured India five times, including a bilateral white-ball series, post-26/11. It’s time for the ICC and its Board of Directors to uphold fairness and assert their authority.
His comments reflect the growing frustration within the PCB and among cricket fans in Pakistan over the BCCI’s stance on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.
The controversy centers on the Indian cricket team refusing to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy. BCCI officials have informed the ICC that the Indian team will not participate in matches held in Pakistan.
India has proposed that its matches be played in a different country, a demand that has been firmly rejected by Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister and the chairman of the PCB.
In an effort to resolve the impasse, stakeholders from both sides are scheduled to meet on November 29. The meeting aims to decide the way forward and finalize the tournament schedule.
The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for the future of the Champions Trophy and the broader relationship between the BCCI and PCB.
