Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi reckons the Indian team should travel to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Afridi said cricket tours should be kept aside from politics and there is nothing bigger than India taking on Pakistan in a big tournament.

The two teams recently met in the T20 World Cup 2024 at New York in the group stage and India was able to come out victorious by six runs. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan is all set to host Champions Trophy 2025. However, as expected, India is exploring other venues and wants to play against Pakistan at a neutral venue, indicating their hesitancy to travel to Pakistan.

Afridi said the Pakistan fans are eagerly waiting for the Indian team and Virat Kohli will receive even more love in Pakistan than India.

“I welcome the Indian team (in Pakistan) and they should come. We’ve always received huge respect and love in our tours of India. In the same way, the Indian team also received love and respect during their tour in 2005,” Afridi said on News24 YouTube Channel.

“Cricket tours should be kept aside from politics. There is no big politics than India and Pakistan playing against each other in their countries. Virat will forget the love he has received in India when he would play in Pakistan. He has a huge craze in Pakistan and our people like him very much,” he added.

On the other hand, Pakistan was knocked out of T20 World Cup in the group stage after suffering losses against the USA and India. Afridi said if the team works on the basis of merit, the desired results will follow.

“Chairman should at least get three years so that Pakistan captain can remain for 2-3 years at his post. With the change of chairman, other things should not be affected. If we work on the basis of merit, the results will come. If the right person takes the right job, then the result will come automatically,” he said.

Pakistan will next host Bangladesh for two Test matches in August.