Pakistan’s opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad has come up with an unconventional idea to facilitate cricket matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan amid ongoing political tensions.
Speaking on a podcast, Shehzad proposed building a stadium on the border of the two nations, allowing players to enter directly from their respective sides without crossing into each other’s territories.
“When I made a podcast, I suggested the idea of building a stadium on the border. One gate would be to India, the other gate would be to Pakistan. The players would come from their respective gates and play,” said Shehzad.
However, he acknowledged the potential logistical and diplomatic challenges.
“But even then there would be problems for the BCCI and its government. When your players enter the field alongside us, they will need visas that they would not otherwise be able to obtain,” he added.
The two neighboring nations have faced each other exclusively at ICC events due to ongoing political tensions.
They have not participated in a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season.
It is pertinent to mention that ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in hosts Pakistan and at a neutral venueconfirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.
This decision is part of a broader agreement under which matches between India and Pakistan in ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at neutral venues, ensuring logistical and security viability.
The ‘merger formula’ will apply to major ICC tournaments after the Champions Trophy, including the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (hosted in India) and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka).
According to this formula, the knockout stage matches, including the final, will be played at a neutral venue if India and Pakistan qualify.
