‘In Virat Kohli’s career, only thing left is…’: Younis Khan

(ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Legendary Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan has made an appeal to Indian batting star Virat Kohli, urging him to visit Pakistan and participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The event is set to be hosted by Pakistan, but the involvement of the Indian team remains uncertain due to the BCCI’s firm position against sending their players to compete in Pakistan.
Younis remarked that the only milestone left for Kohli in his illustrious career is to come to Pakistan and perform there. Although Kohli traveled to Pakistan with the India U-19 team in 2006, he has never played in Pakistan with the senior Indian national team.
Kohli has, however, faced Pakistan in numerous ICC tournaments and boasts an impressive record against the arch-rivals.

“Virat Kohli yahan pe aayein aur aake wo waise hi perform kare. Ek feather reh gaya hai unke career mein ki unhone Pakistan mai nahi khela. Agar wo aayenge toh hum sabko bohot acha lagega (Virat Kohli should come to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy, it’s our wish too. I think the only thing left in Kohli’s career is to tour Pakistan and perform in Pakistan),” Younis told News24.
India have not engaged in any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan since 2012, following Pakistan’s brief visit to India for a limited-overs series. Moreover, the two nations have not competed in a Test series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007.
Even the participation of India in the Champions Trophy remains on tenterhooks with speculations doing rounds about Men In Blue wanting to play their matches outside Pakistan.
The PCB has placed the responsibility on the ICC to persuade the BCCI to send their team to Pakistan for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. The tournament is planned to take place in the initial months of the following year.
A source from the PCB revealed that although the budget for the Champions Trophy was approved during the recent ICC meetings held in Colombo, the schedule and format of the tournament were not discussed at all.
“The PCB now has done what was required of it as hosts of the Champions Trophy. It has submitted the draft schedule and format for the event and also submitted a budget for the event,” a PCB insider said.
“It is now up to the ICC how soon they circulate, discuss and finalize the schedule of the Champions Trophy. The PCB for its part in the draft schedule has suggested hosting all of India’s games in Lahore including a semi-final (if India qualifies) and final,” he said.