Old Video Of Harbhajan Singh Challenging Pakistan Cricket To Survive Without India Resurfaces

The Champions Trophy returns in 2025 with Pakistan as the host and the defending champions both. The tournament was last played in 2017 with India and Pakistan locking horns in the finals. The previous Champions Trophy marked Virat Kohli's first appearance as the Indian skipper in an ICC event. With Pakistan as the hosts of the much-anticipated ICC event, there are always concerns about the security which raises eyebrows. India last toured Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup.

Team India Unlikely to Visit Pakistan For Champions Trophy

The geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have refused to die down but Pakistan on the other hand have turned a blind eye to the problem of terrorism that constantly prevails in their country. The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup hosted by Pakistan was also played in the Hybrid Model as Team India refused to visit their neighbouring nation keeping the issues related to safety and security in mind.

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Harbhajan Singh's Old Video Resurfaces

Amid all the speculations and reports of India likely to pull out of the 2025 edition of the Champion's Trophy, an old video of former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has resurfaced where he doesn't mince words and takes Pakistan's security issues head on. 'If our players are not safe in Pakistan, we won't send the team. If you want to play, play; if not, don't. Indian cricket can still survive without Pakistan. If you guys can survive without Indian cricket, then do it.', said Harbhajan Singh in the video.

Watch The Video Here

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Who Replaces India If They Pull Out of Champions Trophy?

The Champions Trophy has a very different format as compared to the ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup. Only the top 8 ranked teams get to play in the ICC event. The group stage is often played in the round robin format format followed by semi-finals and the finals. If India opt out of the Champions Trophy then Sri Lanka earn themselves a berth in the upcoming ICC event. As of now how things stand, if India are to play then the tournament will have to conducted in a hybrid model.