Champions Trophy 2025: UAE ambassador comments on India vs Pakistan match, says ‘why wouldn’t we….’

New Delhi: Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, has expressed his views on hosting the India vs Pakistan match between the two arch-rivals. This comes after the uncertainty surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with speculation on whether it will be held in Pakistan due to the political tension in the country. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has strongly opposed the event and stated that it will not send its players to Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is aggressively pushing for the mega event to be held entirely in Pakistan.

In a recent development, sources informed Geo News on Sunday that a new arrangement has been proposed, where India will play all their ICC matches, originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, in Dubai. Similarly, Pakistan will play their matches in Dubai that were scheduled to be held in India. Geo News reports that this arrangement will be in place for the next three years, beginning with the Champions Trophy 2025.

As discussions continue on the best possible way to host the tournament, Abdulnasser Alshaali expressed his eagerness to host the thrilling India vs Pakistan clash in the UAE. “Why wouldn’t we? We have always hosted such games and will continue to do so. The UAE is open for business and open for sports,” UAE Ambassador Abdulnasser Alshaali told ANI when asked if the UAE would be willing to host the Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan.

On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) held a meeting with all its members to determine the fate of the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year.

On Saturday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi upheld Pakistan’s stance and rejected the idea of organizing the tournament in a hybrid model, while suggesting that a new formula could be developed.

“We will do what’s best for cricket. It’s certainly not a hybrid formula, but if a new arrangement is created, it will be a fair one. We will not accept one-sided decisions, decisions should be made on the basis of equality,” Naqvi told reporters in Dubai on Saturday, as quoted in a video shared by PCB media on X.

Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, which consisted of white-ball matches. Since then, India and Pakistan have primarily faced each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.

Last Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referenced the BCCI’s statement regarding “security concerns.” During the press briefing, Jaiswal mentioned that it is “unlikely” the Indian team would cross the border to play in Pakistan.