India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav faced questions about the on-going Champions Trophy standoff between India and Pakistan while interacting with fans in South Africa.
After India firmly said no to travelling to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, the message was relayed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In the aftermath, local media reports said Pakistan might withdraw from the tournament.
A video circulating on social media shows Suryakumar posing with fans when one asks, “Mujhe ek baat bata saktein hai? Pakistan kyu nahi aa rahe aap? (Why are you not coming to Pakistan?)”
Suryakumar responds, “Arrey bhaiya, hamare haath mein thodi hai (Brother, it is not in our hands).”
The PCB, meanwhile, has stated it will not accept a hybrid model for the tournament, which would have allowed India to play matches at a neutral venue, most likely in the UAE.
A report in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper suggests the Pakistani government is considering asking the PCB to withdraw from the Champions Trophy entirely.
“In such a case, one of the options the government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don’t participate in the Champions Trophy,” the report quoted a source.
Suryakumar Yadav is in South leading the Indian T20 side in their four-match series that currently stands at 1-1.
The Indian T20 team reached Centurion on Monday for the third T20I. India had won the opener in Durban by 61 runs and then lost the second in Gqeberha by three wickets. The defeat marked the end of India’s winning streak in the format at 11.