(July 12), If Virat Kohli comes to Pakistan, he’ll forget the hospitality of India’: Shahid Afridi amid Champions Trophy 2025 row
Team India has been urged by Shahid Afridi to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy the following year. Shahid Afridi, a former captain of India, has urged the BCCI to reconsider as the 2025 Champions Trophy is currently in doubt due to reports that India will not be visiting Pakistan.
In addition to strengthening the two countries’ cricketing relationship, Afridi hopes that India will visit Pakistan and play so that his country’s fans can see Virat Kohli in action.
Since 2013, India and Pakistan’s bilateral cricket ties have been suspended. It was long thought that India would reciprocate by traveling to play in Pakistan after Pakistan visited India for the 50-over World Cup last year.
According to reports, Lahore, which is near the border, was supposed to host India’s matches. However, on Thursday, ANI reported that the BCCI is unwilling to send their team across the border and that it has once again proposed a hybrid model, similar to what happened with the Asia Cup last year.
Kohli has represented India internationally, with the exception of Pakistan. There are many Kohli fans on the other side of the border, so the idea of him playing there has always been exciting. When India last visited Pakistan in 2006, Kohli was still two years away from making his debut for his country.
This may be Kohli’s final chance to represent India in Pakistan at the age of 25. With his retirement from T20Is, Kohli is about to embark on an intriguing new chapter in his career, concentrating only on ODIs, Tests, and the IPL.
“I’d like to greet Team India. Even during Pakistan’s previous tours, India showed us a great deal of love and respect, and all of their players had a great time when they visited in 2005–06. There is no greater way to bring about peace than for India and Pakistan to play cricket in each other’s nations. Virat Kohli will never forget the warmth and kindness of India if he visits Pakistan. He’s in a class by himself,” Afridi said to News 24.
Kohli could have carried on playing T20Is, adds Afridi
According to the former captain of Pakistan, Kohli ought to have kept playing T20I cricket for India. Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who finished as India’s top two run scorers in the format, announced their retirements from T20 internationals after India won the T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa in the final on June 29. However, Afridi believes that the new players would have benefited much more from having Kohli around.
“He had a great appearance in the format and shouldn’t have given up on T20Is.” Why is he unable to play? He is in shape and well-fit. More than anything, the new guys would have been far more successful if he had been around. It is impossible to get all the young people together; you need a mix of juniors and seniors. “I don’t think anyone else can teach them what Virat can,” Afridi said. With Crickit, your one-stop shop for live scores, match statistics, infographics, and much more, you can catch every big hit and every wicket.
