The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, said on Saturday that Pakistan will not “beg” India for talks. Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi stated, “We will talk to India only on the basis of equality.” He also denied any involvement in the team’s selection process.
Naqvi expressed optimism about the team’s performance in the upcoming tri-nation series and the 2025 Asia Cup. “You will now see the team’s good performance. I have asked the selectors to uphold meritocracy in terms of selecting the players,” Naqvi added. He maintained, “Everything will come in favor of Pakistan on the basis of performance. We are looking to bring new faces into the setup.”
Furthermore, Naqvi expressed hope for good news from the Pakistan women’s cricket team, asserting that “the politics within the Pakistan women’s team have been reduced.”
Pakistan Renews Offer for Comprehensive Dialogue with India
Separately, it was reported on Friday that Pakistan has once again extended an offer for comprehensive talks with India. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made it clear that the discussions will not be limited to a single-point agenda but will address all contentious issues, including the Kashmir dispute.
Speaking in an informal conversation with senior journalists in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar said that despite tensions, Pakistan has consistently shown a desire for peace. “Desire for peace, even after winning the war, is a characteristic of Pakistan,” he remarked.
Dar confirmed that a ceasefire is being implemented, adding that India had approached the United States for mediation. “We received a call from the U.S., and I made it clear that Pakistan does not want war at all,” he said, while criticizing India for its “unnecessary war rhetoric.”
Clarifying Pakistan’s position, Dar stated that Islamabad did not request anyone to arrange talks with India. “We were asked to sit at a neutral location, and I said if the meeting is at a neutral venue, then we will do it,” he explained. He stressed that any dialogue must be comprehensive and include all outstanding disputes, particularly Kashmir.
