Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, reassured on Thursday that the board would prioritize Pakistan’s best interests at the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting concerning the ongoing deadlock over next year’s Champions Trophy.
An ICC spokesman confirmed that the meeting will take place on Friday to decide the fate of the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
Earlier this month, the PCB rejected proposals that would have allowed India to play their matches in a neutral third country. The ICC had informed the PCB that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had made it clear that India’s national team would not travel to Pakistan for the eight-nation event.
During a routine inspection of ongoing upgrades at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Naqvi addressed the media, stressing that the ICC should maintain fairness when deciding the issue of hosting the tournament next year. He reiterated the PCB’s firm opposition to the hybrid model suggested by the BCCI, which involved holding some matches in a neutral country.
Naqvi mentioned that he was in regular contact with ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and his staff was in constant communication with the global cricket body. He expressed confidence that the PCB would leave the meeting with a favorable outcome for Pakistan cricket, assuring that the nation’s interests would be protected.
He emphasized that any decision made at the ICC meeting would be discussed with the government, and the PCB would follow its guidance. Naqvi firmly rejected suggestions that the PCB would accept the hybrid model in exchange for better financial returns from the ICC. He assured that Pakistan’s cricketing interests would be the board’s top priority in the meeting.
Naqvi also highlighted that it was unacceptable for the Pakistan team to play in India while the Indian team refused to visit Pakistan. He stressed the importance of maintaining parity in all cricketing affairs.
In response to questions about Jay Shah’s elevation to ICC Chairman earlier this year, Naqvi stated that Shah would make decisions aligned with his role, working for the benefit of all cricket boards globally during his tenure as ICC chairman.
