NEW DELHI: Legendary Pakistani cricketer Younis Khan has urged Indian star Virat Kohli to visit Pakistan and play in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan will host the event, but it’s uncertain if the Indian team will participate because the BCCI is against sending their players to Pakistan.
Younis said the only thing missing from Kohli’s impressive career is playing in Pakistan. Although Kohli traveled to Pakistan with the India U-19 team in 2006, he has never played there with the senior national team. Kohli has played against Pakistan in many ICC tournaments and has a great record against them.
“Virat Kohli should come to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. It’s the only thing left in his career. If he comes, it will make us all very happy,” Younis Khan told News24.
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India hasn’t played a bilateral series with Pakistan since 2012 and hasn’t played a Test series against them since 2007. There are speculations that India might want to play their matches outside Pakistan during the Champions Trophy.
The PCB has asked the ICC to persuade the BCCI to send their team to Pakistan for the tournament, which is planned for early next year. A source from the PCB said that while the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved at recent ICC meetings in Colombo, the schedule and format were not discussed.
“The PCB has done its part as hosts of the Champions Trophy. It has submitted the draft schedule, format, and budget for the event,” said a PCB insider. “It’s now up to the ICC to finalize the schedule. The PCB has suggested hosting all of India’s games in Lahore, including a semi-final (if India qualifies) and the final.”
