International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025 is still almost a year away but newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi wants assurance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) over India’s participation in the event.
In a meeting next week in Dubai with ICC Executive board, Naqvi wants to talk to BCCI secretary Jay Shah. With ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled for February-March, Shah is unlikely to promise anything on the sidelines of the meeting in Dubai as the decision lies with the Indian government.
"The biggest worry for the PCB is whether India will send its team to Pakistan and there is no repeat of last year’s Asia Cup issues," a PCB source told PTI, citing the 'Hybrid Model' due to which only a handful of matches were played in Pakistan.
PCB wants an answer as early as possible
Indian team has not toured Pakistan since 2008 but this is an ICC event. Last year, India refused to tour Pakistan and played its Asia Cup matches in Sri Lanka and ended up winning the tournament.
"This is an ICC event and Pakistan went last year to India for the World Cup. Naqvi will try to convince the ICC and BCCI that they need to confirm that India will be coming to Pakistan as early as possible as it will help promote the CT for them," the source added.
"Naqvi will try to assure the BCCI representatives that with elections (in Pakistan) completed and a new government in place, there will be no security or other concerns for them to play in Pakistan."
In the meeting, Naqvi will also brief the apex board about the changes being made to stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi for the mega event. In addition, he will make the Pakistani government’s stance on playing India on their soil.
Same answer from BCCI on touring Pakistan
Meanwhile, the BCCI has stuck to its answer on touring Pakistan amidst the political tension between the two nations.
"Playing in Pakistan is something that only Indian government can decide and BCCI will have to follow the government diktat. Also, it is too early to even ask for government's permission and if their new chairman is expecting some kind of assurance in March 2024 for a tournament in Feb-March 2025, he is mistaken," the BCCI source said.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Karachi-born UAE batter smashes third PSL hundred, equals Kamran Akmal's all-time league record
