‘Validates India’s concern’ – Aakash Chopra slams Pakistan Cricket Board for trying to hold event in PoK

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) created a huge controversy on Friday. In an attempt to provoke India, the PCB decided to hold a Champions Trophy tour across various places. One of the intended venues was the controversial Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (Pok) region. The plan didn’t take place after the International Cricket Council (ICC) intervened. 

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has called out PCB over this move. According to Aakash Chopra, the move has created more friction between both nations. India had decided not to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. This caused a huge outcry from the PCB, as the BCCI wanted to play the event in a Hybrid model. 

Chopra while speaking on his YouTube channel said, “Why do you do such things? This is a very genuine question. Many people were saying that what India is doing is wrong and that the Indian government should allow the team to go. There was a lot of outcry about this. Pakistan have many cities of their own, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.” 

Former India star slams Pakistan Cricket Board over new fiasco 

Aakash Chopra also went onto say, “You can have the trophy tour there. However, they put one Pakistan city and the rest of the names they put were occupied-Kashmir cities. What are you trying to do? Why did you decide to take it there? Because you want to legitimize that everything is yours, and then the world starts recognizing it. No, you don't do that. It wasn't a mistake by mistake."

The 47-year-old further said, “If you are taking the trophy on a tour of occupied Kashmir, it actually validates India's concern. India has two concerns. I have heard a dossier is being prepared that has the entire story of the last 15 years, which includes the terror attacks that have happened in Pakistan and how many Pakistan-sponsored attacks have happened in Kashmir.”

According to Chopra, the attempted move by the Pakistan Cricket Board has hurt Indian fans and the general public. India’s former opener also said that this was one of the reasons why BCCI’s decision to not send the team across the border is validated. 

“We have been hurt quite badly. So it's being said that all this is there and our players are going to be prime targets. So we don't believe the Indian players should go there from a security perspective. That's point one” said India’s former opener turned commentator. 

Aakash Chopra then ended by saying, “Secondly, you need to hit them where it hurts the most. Indian diplomacy also understands that if you are trying to use this as a soft power, that you want to take the trophy on a tour of PoK, your purpose is to legitimize what you are doing. So India has every right to say  'Sorry boss, we do not agree one bit.'