Champions Trophy 2025: How Pakistan Has Destroyed Romance of Cricket | Opinion

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Old timers romance India versus Pakistan contests, that is, when the two nations exchanged bilateral tours. Now things have come to such a pass, even as the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 takes place in Pakistan today, the lament is if there can be old contests.

Those who have been to Pakistan say they are good hosts and there is bonhomie. This writer has made a conscious decision not to travel to Pakistan, offered a chance for the firs time when Pakistan hosted the hockey World Cup, in 1990.

There are good stories and bad stories. Over the last few decades, there has been Track 2 diplomacy efforts as well. The folks part of this diplomacy thought there could be normalcy.

Well, the way geopolitics is changing and Pakistan continues to perpetuate terror in India, bilateral cricket tours can never happen. If anything, even the India vs Pakistan contests in an ICC event or an Asia Cup is losing sheen.

Indeed, the real build-up is driven more by jingoism and shrill voices. One must compliment the Indian government they are firm, no cricket diplomacy with Pakistan. Of course, Pakistan has threatened, they, too, will not travel to India for ICC cricket events.

Time will tell, if Pakistan has such clout or they will surrender, just like the way they did during the 1971 war. India has grown from strength to strength over the last few decades, even as Pakistan has slumped. Their economy is in shambles, a far worse environment when they last hosted an ICC event in 1996, the ODI World Cup, including the final.

What is it that has led to this collapse, the political class of Pakistan alone can perhaps answer. In all these years, Pakistan has lost massively. Their players are unwanted for the Indian Premier League. And it leads to heartburn across the border.

There are many more events in sports where Pakistan find it hard to come to India. If there has to be a change, a positive one, the entire thinking process has to change. It is not about the Pakistan Cricket Board or the BCCI at all.

The lack of political will in Pakistan has ensured normalcy can never be restored. It has hurt former Pakistani players now sitting in Dubai how the romance of old contests between India and Pakistan has been wiped out. Can a Mudassar Nazar tell his people in Pakistan that their 'netas' and ISI have to stop terror. No, they cannot.

One should not be surprised if this is the last time an ICC event is hosted in Pakistan. Just to rewind, this Champions Trophy was allotted to Pakistan long ago. The way they broke down stadia and delayed rebuilding without money is pathetic. They had to beg the ICC for funds and then restore the stadia.

If you ask the big sponsors whether they will spend on India or Pakistan, the answer will be clear. India is the favourite. Sample the deals done by marquee Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, they are massive.

What does Pakistan have to showcase other than terror?