Pakistan Will Not Play ICC Events, If India Will not Come for Champions Trophy: Off the cricket field, the India versus. Pakistan match has resumed. The Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan in 2025, is the problem this time. India will not be visiting Pakistan, according to multiple reports, and a hybrid hosting approach is being developed.

Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was emphatic in his reaction to these reports.

Read More | IPL 2025: KRR Player Venkatesh Iyer Gets Emotional After Not Being Retained

“Pakistan has made several kind gestures in recent years. But, as Geo News reports, Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, told reporters in Lahore, “We hope we are not expected to always do so.”

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has sad that Pakistan may take the big step of boycotting ICC events if India do not go to Pakistan this time.

Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and reigning champions Pakistan are among the countries that will compete in the Champions Trophy, which will be divided into two groups of four.

Read More | Ricky Ponting Reveals ‘Joe Root can Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Records’

“If it is a bilateral series or Asia Cup, then the teams are asked, whether India wants to play or not. This is an ICC event. The cycle has been signed from 2024-2031. All the broadcasters and sponsors have signed about the teams that will participate in the Champions Trophy or the World Cup,” Latif said during the Geo News show.

“If a team denies to participate, they need to have a solid reason to justify their call. Just like in 1996, the West Indies and Australia did not go to Sri Lanka but still reached the final. If you make a reason for security, then it is not a solid reason. Teams like Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa are coming to Pakistan. They want to come to Pakistan,” he added

“ICC is existing only because there is Pakistan and India. If the government of Pakistan also says like India that we won’t play, then the ICC will be of no use as no one will watch the match,” Rashid said.

“We can say that India does not want to play bilateral matches, but you can’t deny the ICC events as you already have signed it. India has to make solid ground. If India doesn’t come this time, Pakistan will take a big step by not participating in the tournament,” he added.

Source

KRR Player Venkatesh Iyer Get Emotional After Not Being Retained: The challenge of holding a huge auction immediately following an Indian Premier League (IPL) championship is that a team must say goodbye to a number of the winning team’s players.

This time around, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the IPL 2024 winners, have been like that.

Even though they were able to keep six of its mainstays, KKR was forced to let go of players like Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Mitchell Starc. After being let go, the latter, who has been with the team since 2021, became upset.

“KKR is a whole family in this instance. It’s not just the 16, 20 or 25 players, but also the management, the staff, the guys behind the scenes. There is so much emotion behind that that it kind of makes me a little teary-eyed that my name is not on the retention list,” said a heartfelt Venkatesh Iyer to RevSportz.

Read More | IPL 2025: CSK Keeps Replacement of MS Dhoni – Report

“Because there is no video of KKR bidding for me in my first auction. During this auction I would sit like an excited kid to see if KKR put up the paddle for me and if they do, it will mean the world to me,” he added.

KKR has benefited greatly from Venkatesh’s contributions during the past four IPL seasons, reaching the final in 2021 and winning the cup in 2024. In the 2024 IPL final, he even hit the game-winning runs.

Read More | Pakistan Women Team Drops 8 Catches Against New Zealand Women: Watch Video

Venkatesh acknowledged that the franchise had made strong retentions, but he emphasized the emotion and sense of family at the Knight Riders.

“The honest thing, as someone who analyses cricket as well, is that KKR has had a very good retention. They have covered 14-16 overs with the ball, and with the bat, they have covered five positions,” said Venkatesh.

Read More | Virat Kohli Picks Ab de Villiers as The Most Talented Cricketer

“I would’ve loved to be on the retention list, KKR has given me the big breakthrough and I’ve given everything for them,” he added right after.

With four fifties and 370 runs with a strike rate of 158.80 in the second half of the 2024 Indian Premier League, Venkatesh had an incredible second half.

“The doors are open, and if I have a good auction. I may still end up playing for the team I love the most,” said Venkatesh.

Source