'He needs to show the sportsman spirit' - Younis Khan urges ICC chair Jay Shah to ensure India's Champions Trophy participation

Former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has called upon newly-appointed International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah to facilitate India's participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. His appeal comes after ongoing speculation about India's potential absence from the tournament.

India and Pakistan have seen their cricketing ties strained for quite a few years now due to the unstable political relations between the two nations. The last time India played in Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup, while their most recent bilateral series took place in 2012-13. Since then, encounters between these two have been limited to only ICC events and Asia Cup matches.

The appointment of Shah as ICC Chairman has sparked hope for improved cricket relations between the two countries. Younis is optimistic about the chances of better cricketing relations after the appointment of the 35-year-old.

“The cricket should uplift with the appointment of Jay Shah as the ICC chief. Jay Shah needs to show the sportsman spirit, as with the good initiatives of the ICC chief, India can come to Pakistan to play cricket. In the same way, Pakistan can visit India,” Younis said as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

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Always a pressure to play cricket in home conditions: Younis Khan

The former captain, who led the Men in Green to victory in the 2009 T20 World Cup, also commented on the current state of Pakistani cricket. Following the national team's recent 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test, the right-hand batter emphasised on the need for players to perform under pressure, especially in home conditions. 

“There is always a pressure to play cricket in home conditions. What is the benefit to the players if they cannot absorb the pressure? There is a dire need for the players to boost their morale. Everybody has seen that whether the pitch was fast or slow. We have clinched victories at that time when no international cricket was happening in the country,” he added.

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He also opened up about the recent comments made by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who regrated the lack of a sufficient player pool to renew the national team. "I’m not sure why the PCB chairman feels there’s no talent in domestic cricket. We have immense talent in our domestic circuit," he concluded.