'Conditions in Pakistan not sports-friendly': Anurag Thakur

NEW DELHI: As anticipation builds for the official decision on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting, BJP MP and former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has raised concerns over Pakistan’s suitability as the host nation, citing the country is "not very sports-friendly" and "not very safe and secure."
In a major development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reportedly agreed in principle to a hybrid hosting model for global tournaments involving India and Pakistan until 2027. This arrangement would allow both nations to play matches at neutral venues during ICC events hosted by the other country.
Addressing the matter, Thakur stated, "India has made it very clear that the safety and security of the players are very important, and we have been very consistent with our stand as far as playing in Pakistan is concerned. Till the time they do not have control or check over the terrorist activities and cross-border activities, India is not willing to play there. The conditions in Pakistan are not very sports-friendly, not very safe and secure. The decision made by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is right."
Highlighting India’s contributions to international cricket, Thakur added, "As far as international cricket is concerned, India's contribution at the international level is huge... India is in a position to host the best of the tournaments. We have done that in the past and we can do that in the future as well. Countries across the globe love to come and play in India, and the world's most popular cricket league is played in India, the Indian Premier League (IPL)."