‘If you have the courage, come here and play’—Tanvir Ahmed enters dirty pool as Indian trip to Pakistan uncertain

It is anticipated that the Champions Trophy 2025 would start in less than seven months. The BCCI has not yet determined if the Indian team will visit the adjacent nation, although Pakistan has the hosting rights. The reluctance is a result of geopolitical tensions and security worries between the two nations.

Former Pakistan pacer Tanvir Ahmed has shown a straw man fallacy by doubting the bravery of the Indian players, despite PCB’s insistence on enlisting their support.

It is noteworthy that as tensions between the two nations grew, the Pakistani squad travelled to India for the World Cup 2023 and the T20 World Cup 2016. Speaking about the events, Tanvir Ahmed referred to the Pakistani team as “lions” and challenged India to prove it by travelling to the nation for the upcoming competition.

“We are lions. We entered your den and tricked you. Come play here if you have the guts. We promise to provide you with everything, including security. For once, please! It is only open to players from Pakistan. They travelled to India to play. That’s what you call courage,” Tanvir remarked, according to an NDTV Sports statement.

Pakistani cricket is struggling under the influence of extremists.

After terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan squad in 2009 as they were travelling to the stadium, the International Cricket Council designated Pakistan as a red zone. While most of the players were unharmed, a few sustained injuries, and the incident caused such a stir that no nation was ready to tour Pakistan. Following six years of horrifying violence, two nations that visited Pakistan in 2015 were Zimbabwe and Bangladesh Women.

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Paradoxically, Sri Lanka did the same in 2017 when they came for a single game. Some players, including Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, and Chris Gayle, chose not to go with the West Indies when they arrived for the T20I series in 2018. In 2019, Pakistan hosted a multi-format series including Sri Lanka, and they welcomed Test cricket back home.