Shane Watson: “It’s unfortunate things have turned out this way, but everyone loves watching India-Pakistan games. I got a small opportunity to play in the PSL in 2019, the first time after playing there in 2005. It was one of the highlights of my career”
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Former Australia big-hitting all-rounder Shane Watson admitted that “it’s unfortunate” India refused to play the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy will take place from February 19 to March 9. All of India’s matches will be held in Dubai, while the other teams will play at three different venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Watson pointed out that Pakistani fans would have loved to see India come to the country as there is immense excitement whenever the two arch-rivals face each other.
He also recalled visiting the nation with the Australian team and for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying it was “one of the highlights of my career”.
“It’s unfortunate things have turned out this way, but everyone loves watching India-Pakistan games. I got a small opportunity to play in the PSL in 2019, the first time after playing there in 2005. It was one of the highlights of my career. To go to Pakistan after a long time and see the love and joy they have for cricket was incredible. They were starved of world-class live cricket,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“It’s going to be huge for Pakistan cricket fans to watch world-class players in their country. This tournament will light up Pakistan. It’s going to be a special event for the country and its cricket fans.”
Pakistan recently travelled to Australia for a limited overs series and won the ODIs 2-1 before getting crushed 3-0 in the T20Is.
They then went to Zimbabwe and came away with a 2-1 victory in both the ODI and T20I series.
As for their recently-concluded tour of South Africa, the men in green lost the T20I series 2-0 before bouncing back to claim a 3-0 win in the ODIs.
The two teams when played a two-Test series, which the Proteas won 2-0.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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