Omar Abdullah Talks About India’s Decision Not to Play Cricket in Pakistan

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 11: Omar Abdullah, a leader from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, stated that the decision not to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy is up to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February to March 2025.

On Thursday morning, a BCCI source mentioned that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. The BCCI plans to inform the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold its matches in Dubai or Sri Lanka instead.

Abdullah emphasized that improving relations between India and Pakistan is a shared responsibility. He said, “What is new in this? Both countries have not played bilateral series for many years, it is BCCI’s own decision not to go for the tournament. I have always said that it is not only our country’s responsibility to establish better relations between these two countries, if better relations are to be made then it is Pakistan’s responsibility too.”

He added, “The kind of attacks that are happening should not happen, the kind of atmosphere that is there should not be there, Pakistan will also have to play its role in this so that the relations between the two countries improve.”

Since the 2008 Asia Cup, India has not played any cricket tournaments in Pakistan due to tense relationships between both nations. The last bilateral series between the two countries was held in India from December 2012 to January 2013. Since then, they have only faced each other in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had proposed that India play all its matches in one city, with Lahore being chosen as the location. However, the Indian board is not interested in traveling to Pakistan.