In the midst of the continuing discussion that has arisen since the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule was revealed, former Pakistani batter Younis Khan has offered his thoughts on the possibility that the Indian squad will not play in the competition. Reports implying that the Indian government might not consent to the Indian contingent’s journey to Pakistan because of the two countries’ political disagreements and security concerns in the neighbouring country have fanned the rumours.
Younis Khan also stated his position on the problem two weeks after former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi spoke his opinions.
Younis highlighted how much he wanted Virat Kohli to come to Pakistan for the tournament the next year, saying that all Pakistanis, cricket fans and players past, felt the same way. Younis pointed out that playing in Pakistan was the last thing left of Kohli’s remarkable cricket career.
“Virat Kohli ought to visit Pakistan in 2025 to compete for the Champions Trophy. We also hope for the same. He ought to travel to Pakistan and perform. Younis Khan told News24, “I think the only thing left in Virat’s career is to tour Pakistan and perform,” which was cited by NDTV Sports.
Indeed, Younis’s assertion has a great deal of validity. Kohli has yet to play a match on Pakistani land, despite having taken part in many white-ball cricket matches against Pakistan, mostly during ICC events. The last time India played a bilateral series in Pakistan was in 2006, two years before Kohli made his debut for his country.
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In 2012–13, Pakistan toured India for a two-match T20I series and three ODIs, which was the last bilateral series between the two teams. Despite taking part in those series, the then-24-year-old Kohli had not yet taken part in a Test match against Pakistan.
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