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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that Pakistan's women's cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup which is scheduled to take place later this year. Naqvi said that Pakistan will play all their matches at a neutral venue as the hybrid model was accepted earlier this year.
During the ICC Champions Trophy, the BCCI refused to send Team India to the host nation, Pakistan, due to players' safety and border tensions between the two nations. India played all their matches in Dubai.
During that time, ICC, PCB and BCCI agreed to a hybrid model that allowed both India and Pakistan to play their matches at neutral venues if one of the two countries was to host an ICC event.
"Just like India didn't play in Pakistan in the Champions Trophy and were allowed to play at a neutral venue, whatever venue is decided, we will play. When there is an agreement, it has to be adhered to," he said as quoted by PTI.
Naqvi said that India and ICC, being the hosts of the tournament, would decide a neutral venue for matches featuring Pakistan. India will host the tournament from September 29 to October 26, with Australia being the defending champions.
Naqvi also lavished praise on the Fatima Sana-led Pakistan for their impressive campaign in the ODI World Cup 2025 qualifiers. Pakistan ended up winning all five matches in the Qualifiers held in Lahore. They beat Ireland, Scotland, West Indies, Thailand and Bangladesh to qualify smoothly for the main round, for which hosts India, England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka have already qualified.
"The team showed how to take home advantage and play like a collective unit. I am happy that women's cricket is doing well now,” he said.
He added that the PCB would definitely announce a special reward for the women's team for their outstanding performance.
Naqvi also said that he was happy that the PCB had hosted another ICC event successfully after the Champions Trophy.
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