In a first, Bhaskar has reached Pakistan for on-ground coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Bhaskar journalist Bikram Pratap Singh is in Lahore, covering special stories and updates for the next 20 days. Here's a report of what he saw and heard when he reached Lahore. Millions of people in Pakistan are fans of Virat and Rohit. We wanted to see them play here. The Indian team would not receive as much love anywhere else as they would here. Cricket should be kept free from politics. We want to play cricket with India just like we do with other countries. Salman Haider, at Lahore's famous Liberty Chowk, is disappointed. An ICC tournament is taking place in Pakistan after 29 years. He had hoped that Team India would also travel for the tournament, but that did not happen. India will play all its matches in Dubai after the BCCI was not granted permission to travel to Pakistan by the Indian government. Like Salman, there is also displeasure on journalist Mansoor Bukhari's face. He says, There are many fans of Virat Kohli in Pakistan. Without playing here, Kohli's career will remain incomplete. Talk of the Champions Trophy everywhere in Lahore
I reached Lahore via the Attari-Wagah border. As soon as you arrive here, you start to feel that a big cricket tournament is happening. People on the streets are talking about cricket. There is resentment in the air for two reasons. First, their team lost to New Zealand in the initial match. If Pakistan loses the second match as well, it will be almost out of the race for the semi-finals. The second is because India did not send a team to Pakistan for the tournament. India's matches will be held in Dubai. If the team reaches the final, that match will also be held in Dubai. To find out what Pakistanis think about Team India not visiting, I spoke to many different people. ‘Nations do not progress by making enemies, India should have sent team’
Mian Abuzar Shad is the President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce. I asked him about Team India not coming to Pakistan. Due to strained relations, not only cricket but also business between the two countries is at a standstill. Mian Abuzar Shad responded with poetry. He said- Faasle aise bhi honge, ye to kabhi maine socha na tha. Paas hokar mere, wo mera na tha. It is evident that he was talking about the distance between India and Pakistan despite being neighbors. Mr. Mian is saddened by this distance which is reflected in his voice and words. He says, ‘A pigeon flying from Amritsar eats grain in Lahore and goes back. Similarly, a pigeon from Lahore eats grain in Amritsar and returns.' 'Hindus and Muslims lived together for 700 years. Where don't partitions happen? Even today, the marks of our elders are there, and the marks of your elders are here. Neighbors cannot be changed. There can be enmity. The point is that enmity should not increase.’ He explains the problems caused by bad relations with an example. He says, ‘Tomatoes grown in Amritsar first go to Mumbai. From there, they go to Dubai. Then they come to Karachi and after that to Lahore. Tomatoes grown 40 kilometers away travel 4,000 kilometers to reach us.’ 'India with a large economy should not fight a country with a small economy' Advocating for good relationships, Mr. Abuzar Shad says, ‘‘We should live together. The world has seen a lot of hatred. Decisions of wars are also made at the table. India has such a large economy. It doesn't make sense for it to fight with a small economy. Nations do not progress by making each other enemies.’ Mr. Abuzar Shad further says, ‘If anyone thinks that something will go wrong if one team doesn't come, that's not the case. I request India and Mr. Modi to increase the relationship of love. Increase friendship. Your team should come to Lahore to play. Our team should play in India, so that we do not give this gift to the new generations.’ ‘Pakistanis are also fans of Indian cricketers, it would have been nice if the team had come’
After this, I reached Lahore's famous Liberty Chowk. I asked the same question to the people who came here for shopping. Their answer was that Team India definitely should have travelled. Mohammad Ali, who works at Nizam Bank, says, ‘The situation in Pakistan has improved. Every team is getting good security. We were expecting the Indian team to come. We would have liked it if the team had come. We are fans of Indian cricketers. He added, 'There is a tough competition between both teams. When Pakistan and India play, the roads get jammed. Pakistanis are open-hearted people. The Indian team has no issues. Pakistan and India are alike. Borders are just for demarcation.’ 'Virat has not played a match in Pakistan, should not retire without it'
I asked Lahore journalist Mansoor Bukhari the same question. He says directly, 'Disappointment is in every house in Pakistan. People regret that the Indian team did not come. They should have come. People want to see your players. At the moment, they are disappointed.' He adds, 'I want to say one more thing, Virat Kohli has many fans in Pakistan. Kohli has not played an international match in Pakistan. His career will remain incomplete without playing in Pakistan.' From Liberty Chowk, I went to the nearly 200-year-old Anarkali Market and tried to talk to several women here. They did not want to come on camera. However, their complaint was also that India did not do well by not sending the team. 'Team India strong on paper, but Pakistan an expert in surprises'
Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy. In the final of the 2017 tournament, they defeated India to win the title. However, this time it has started with a loss. If India defeats Pakistan, it will be very difficult for them to reach the semi-finals. My next question to people was – Who will win the match on February 23? Lahore Press Club Secretary Zahid Abid says, ‘On paper, the Indian team is much better. Still, the Pakistani team always has the knack for giving surprises. So it won't be surprising if Pakistan wins.’ Meanwhile, Khabar Baig says, ‘Winning and losing are part of the game. Whenever there is a match between India and Pakistan, there is a lot of stress on both sides. Whether India wins or Pakistan, it is certain that the audience will get a good match.’ Team India went to Pakistan to play Asia Cup 17 years ago
Team India last went to Pakistan to play the Asia Cup in 2008. Both teams faced each other twice in the tournament. In the match held on June 26, India easily defeated Pakistan. Pakistan batted first and set a target of 300 runs. Captain Shoaib Malik scored the highest with 125 runs. India achieved the required runs for victory in 42 overs. Opener Virender Sehwag scored 119 runs. India won this match by 6 wickets. After this, on July 2, there was another match between India and Pakistan in the Super-4 round. This time Team India lost badly. The Indian team, batting first, scored 308 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 76 and Rohit Sharma scored 58 runs. In response, Pakistan scored 309 runs for the loss of two wickets. Younis Khan scored 123 runs. Team India played its last match in Pakistan against Sri Lanka. This match was the final of the Asia Cup. In the final, the team lost to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 273 runs in 49.5 overs. In response, Team India was all out for 173 runs in 39.3 overs. Rohit Sharma only current Indian cricketer to have played in Pakistan
The current captain Rohit Sharma was also part of the team that played the Asia Cup in 2008. Apart from him, no player has the experience of playing in Pakistan. Virat Kohli made his ODI debut only after this tournament. Relations soured after Mumbai attack, most matches on neutral venues
The Indian team has never toured Pakistan after 2008. After the terrorist attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, the Indian government refused to play cricket in Pakistan. However, the Pakistani team came to India for a 3-match ODI and 2-match T20 series in 2012-13. Since then, both teams have only faced each other in ICC tournaments on neutral venues. Pakistani team travelled to India to play the 2023 ODI World Cup
The Pakistan team came to India in 2023 to play the ODI World Cup. In this match held in Ahmedabad, India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets. This was Team India's 8th consecutive win against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup. The Pakistani team, batting first, was all out for just 191 runs in 42.5 overs. Babar Azam scored the highest with 50 and Mohammad Rizwan made 49 runs. India scored 192 runs in 30.3 overs losing 3 wickets. Rohit Sharma scored 86 runs off 63 balls. Shreyas Iyer played an innings of 53 runs off 62 balls.Original Article