Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has expressed disappointment over India’s decision not to participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, even as teams from around the world prepare for the tournament. Speaking at an event, Afridi remarked that India’s absence is a missed opportunity but urged the Pakistan team to concentrate on defeating them whenever they meet in the future.
Afridi stated, “If all teams are coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, India should have come too. But now that they have opted out, there’s not much to say about it.” He emphasized that the focus should be on winning against India in any scenario, rather than dwelling on their absence.
Afridi acknowledged that the issue of India’s non-participation was no longer relevant and stressed the importance of the Pakistan team delivering strong performances to unite the nation. “Victory brings the country together under one flag,” he added.
While Afridi alluded to concerns about certain player selections for the squad, he chose to keep his thoughts private for now. “There are a few players in the 15-member squad whose backgrounds I know, but I’ll talk about that later,” he mentioned.
He advised the team to focus on excelling in all areas—batting, bowling, and fielding—as they will face tough competition from well-prepared teams in the Champions Trophy.
