'We are good and hospitable people'; Shoaib Malik wants Indian team to come to Pakistan for Champions Trophy

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said that the Indian cricket team should come to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to be held in his country in 2025. Speaking in an interview given to a Pakistani media outlet, Malik said that politics should not come into sports.

"Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that's a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn't come into sports. The Pakistan team travelled to India last year, and now it's a good opportunity for the Indian team too. I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven't played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. We are good people. We're very hospitable people, so I'm sure the Indian team should definitely come,"

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had hinted that it would not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy ODI cricket tournament scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February next year. It is reported that the BCCI may request the ICC to hold the tournament in a hybrid model and relocate India's matches to either Sri Lanka or Dubai.