After ICC Champions Trophy win, Sarfraz Ahmed urges India to play cricket in Pakistan

Pakistan used their ICC Champions Trophy win to invite world’s top teams to come play cricket in their homeland

 

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed poses with the ICC Champions Trophy after beating India in the final in London on Sunday.(Reuters)

Pakistan used their maiden ICC Champions Trophy win to make a politically sensitive statement on Sunday. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, in his opening address to the media, said the win will boost Pakistan cricket and “hopefully all nations will now come to Pakistan.” He added: “It is sad that we have not been playing at home for eight years.”
All top nations refuse to play in Pakistan where security is at a premium. Pakistan play their ‘home’ matches in UAE and Sunday’s 180-run win against defending champions India was a perfect platform to send a strong message to the government in New Delhi.
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Successive Indian governments have refused to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan and it is unlikely that the result of the 2017 Champions Trophy will change the views of the Narendra Modi government.
Pakistan, however, were on top of the world after their victory. They came into the tournament as the lowest ranked team and after suffering a 124-run loss in a group match against India at Edgbaston on June 4, seemed to have lost steam.