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The Pakistan Cricket Board: In light of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to security concerns in the country, a strong message has been conveyed through former cricketer and politician Kirti Azad, who has asserted that sports and terrorism cannot coexist.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of its decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan, reigniting the long-standing diplomatic and sporting tensions between the two neighbours. Azad, a prominent voice advocating India’s security-first approach in international engagements, spoke out on Monday, emphasising that sports should adhere to principles of fair play.

For Azad, India's stance resonates with a larger tradition of using sports to signal moral and political positions. Citing the example of apartheid-era South Africa, he recalled how nations globally cut ties with South Africa in protest of racial segregation, leading to the country’s isolation from international sports.