Former national team fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, famously known as the Rawalpindi Express, has said that the Champions Trophy will be a step toward hosting bigger events. He still believes that the Indian team will come to Pakistan. In an interview, Shoaib Akhtar mentioned that there will be backchannel talks between Pakistan and India regarding the Champions Trophy. He emphasized that we should not lose hope but remain patient for a solution.
He further stated that the decision of Pakistan and India’s teams to participate in such events ultimately lies with their governments, as no cricket board has the authority to make these calls on its own. The former fast bowler also acknowledged the reality that 95-96% of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) sponsorship comes from India, which is why the Indian cricket board often holds a strong influence.
