Should India Travel To Pakistan For Champions Trophy 2025? Harbhajan Singh's Brutal Reply

26.07.2024 - 03:27 sports.ndtv.com

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said Team India should not travel across the border to Pakistan for next year's ICC Champions Trophy as the security situation in the neighbouring country is still volatile.

The veteran bowler also backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decision to seek the government's approval for the visit before confirming their participation in the tournament.

The Indian board has refrained from commenting on the issue and said the country's government will decide whether to travel to Pakistan. "Why should the Indian team go to Pakistan?

There is a safety concern in Pakistan. The situation in Pakistan is such that incidents occur almost every day. I don't think it's safe (for the team) to go there.

cricket India Cricket Team Pakistan Cricket Team Harbhajan Singh India Pakistan

Former India great Harbhajan Singh believes that Virat Kohli with his supreme fitness can easily survive the rigours of international cricket for another five years while Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma will last at least another couple of years. "Rohit can easily play for two more years. You never know with Virat Kohli's fitness, you can see him competing for five years. He is probably the fittest guy in the team," Harbhajan told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview. "You ask any 19-year-old competing with Virat (on fitness). Virat will beat him. He is that fit. I believe Virat and Rohit have a lot of cricket left in them and it is entirely up to them. If they are fit enough, they are performing and the team is winning, they should continue to play. As simple as that," the man with 700 plus international wickets said.

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The camaraderie between Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra and Pakistani javelin ace Arshad Nadeem clearly shows that sport transcends borders and unites people, feels former India spinner Harbhajan Singh. On Thursday, Nadeem clinched the gold medal with a stunning Olympic record throw of 92.97m while defending champion Chopra took the silver with a season's best effort of 89.45m, in Paris. "We have seen some good pictures where Neeraj and Nadeem after the ceremony, they were talking with each other... with both of them holding their own flags and respecting each other as a sportsperson. That's what shows that sports is beyond any boundaries and sports unites everyone, so great message by both of them," Harbhajan said.

ICC's Plan B If BCCI Refuses To Send Team India To Pakistan For Champions Trophy

There continues to remain a deadlock over the ICC Champions Trophy's fate, with Pakistan Cricket Board keen to host the entire tournament at home while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is refusing to send the Indian team across the border. The Indian board wants its matches to be held in UAE or Sri Lanka, Pakistan has shared the proposal of hosting all of India's matches in Lahore. While no resolution has been reached so far, the ICC has reportedly prepared a Plan B in a case where the Indian team doesn't come to Pakistan at all.

Pakistan Fan Says Babar Azam Ignored Irfan Pathan For Interview, Harbhajan Singh Gives Angry Response

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at a Pakistani fan on social media. The fan had posted a clip where Pakistan captain Babar Azam can be seen rejecting an interview. However, the fan incorrectly said that the interviewer was former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Enraged at the false appropriation, Harbhajan jumped to the defence of his former teammate and slammed the fan. In fact, Harbhajan went as far as to mock the English-speaking ability of the Pakistani cricketers.