After the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, Hardik Pandya's cheeky reply to a Pakistan journalist has grabbed the attention when the Indian all-rounder was asked about why his team did not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. India played all their Champions Trophy matches including the final at one venue - Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
"I am sure Pakistani people living in Dubai must have enjoyed our performance. The question of why we didn't go is way above my pay grade," he said with a smile which brought laughter to the room.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send their team to Pakistan citing security concerns. A hybrid model was adopted similar to the 2023 Asia Cup arrangement, where India played all their games in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it will not send its teams to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup and will instead choose to play its matches at a neutral venue.
In the Champions Trophy, Hardik Pandya delivered an impressive performance, scoring 99 runs and claiming four wickets as a seamer. In the Group A match against Pakistan, he played a crucial role by dismissing Babar Azam.
Pandya also reflected on the 2017 Champions Trophy loss against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. He said, "Now that we have won, I can say that I have avenged that 2017 final loss. But eight years is a long time; a lot has happened. For me, India’s win is important. Fans back home are happy; this is the best we can offer from our side."
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India script history in Dubai
India cricket team on Sunday (March 9) created history by winning the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets and became the most successful team in the tournament history with three titles under their belt.
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