Rashid Latif on ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025 Neutral Venues: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif gave his opinion on the matches between India and Pakistan (IND vs PAK Match Venue in Champion’s Trophy 2025) in ICC events, which will now be played at neutral venues and said that Such an agreement should have been made after the 2017 Champions Trophy. He also mentioned that ICC is working on a formula that will benefit both the countries. The International Cricket Council’s Executive Board on Thursday confirmed that matches between India and Pakistan will be played at neutral venues in upcoming ICC events until 2027, including next year’s Champions Trophy 2025.
The decision should have been taken long ago
As per ICC rules, this agreement should have been made after the 2017 Champions Trophy, as Pakistan had toured India in 2016. In 2023, Pakistan toured India and also played in the ODI World Cup. We want both Pakistan and India to visit and play in each other’s countries. The 2023 Asia Cup was held outside, and we’re basically avoiding playing each other. Pakistan has already visited India twice, so the people of Pakistan felt that India should have come,” Latif told IANS.
He said, “But the agreement that has been reached now is for a long term, where India and Pakistan will play matches at neutral venues. To ensure this, they will have to sign documents with the ICC and the board members. Always dominant, and they got what they wanted. Pakistan wanted to keep the Champions Trophy in their country, and in their own way, cricket should win in all this. Or that of India or Pakistan.”
Latif stressed that attention should be diverted from the story of India’s victory and Pakistan’s defeat (Rashid Latif on IND vs PAK Champion’s Trophy Match). He further said that it is “economically harmful” for India and Pakistan for both the countries to play their home games at a neutral venue. The neutral venue arrangement will also be applicable in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (hosted by India) and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (hosted by India and Sri Lanka). Apart from this, it will also be implemented on the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in 2028, the hosting rights of which have been given to Pakistan.
“There will always be an argument that India won and Pakistan lost. I believe we should move beyond this and whatever events are held, they should be based on equality. Not playing against each other is economically beneficial for both the teams. It is harmless and a formula is being made for it. Once it is completed, I will definitely share it,” he said.
Due to strained political relations, India and Pakistan face each other only in international events such as the World Cup and Asia Cup. The last series between the two was held in 2012–13 when Pakistan toured India for a five-match white-ball series.
