A Pakistan fan has urged the Men in Green not to display any friendship towards Indian players during their Champions Trophy 2025 fixture on February 23 in Dubai. With the BCCI refusing to send its team to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, the fan reckons the match against India is more about saving their honour.
The BCCI refused to budge from its stance of not sending the men's team to Pakistan for the event, citing security concerns. Following months of deadlock, the Pakistan Cricket Board agreed to hybrid model, with India set to play all their matches in Dubai. Should the Men in Blue reach the final, Dubai will also stage the decider.
PAKISTAN FANS ANGRY WITH VIRAT KOHLI & ROHIT SHARMA
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 3, 2025
Fans believe Pakistan players should not hug Indian players during the match. Team India betrayed Pakistan by not coming here. Do you agree? #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/Grw73YYYzJ
In a video shared on social media, here's what the fan claimed:
"Apni team se zaroor kahunga ki aapne wahan par wholesome moments kiye, gale vagerah mile unke saath, Kohli ke saath inki dosti bahut hai, yeh cheezein nahin honi chahiye. Unhone zyaati ki hai hamaare saath. Main Rizwan sahab se kahunga aap unse gale na milein. Is match ko match ki tarah nahin, izzat ki tarah lena hai. Pakistan-India jo match hota hai, accha hota hai, lekin India jo harkatein kar raha hai, hum chahte hain India pehle round se bahar ho, hum chahte hain Bangladesh bhi usko haraaye."
(I will say this to my team that don't display any wholesome moments with the Indian side or give them a hug during the CT 2025 game. By not coming to Pakistan to play in the tournament, they have done wrong. I urge Mohammad Rizwan not to hug the Indian players and see this match as if their honour is on the line. India-Pakistan matches are good but given India's refusal to come here and play, we want them to lose to Bangladesh and get eliminated in the first round).
Pakistan beat India to clinch the 2017 Champions Trophy title
Pakistan, meanwhile, will start as the defending champions ahead of the 2025 edition, having sealed their first title in 2017 by defeating arch-rivals in the final in London. The Men in Green, captained by Sarfaraz Ahmed, amassed 338 in the final, spearheaded by Fakhar Zaman's hundred. Later, fiery spells from Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali ensured that India got nowhere close to the target.
Pakistan will start the tournament against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.