PCB undeterred by India's possible absence from Champions Trophy: Mohsin Naqvi
Cricket
"The BCCI cited security concerns for the decision and expressed desire to play games in Dubai"
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday India had not officially communicated about their non-participation in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Speaking to media, Naqvi said the Indian media had been reporting for two months that their team would not be travelling to Pakistan for the tournament.
Referring to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he said if anyone had any objections, they should convey the PCB in writing through proper channel.
He said no discussions had taken place with the BCCI regarding the hybrid model, adding: “We are also not prepared for it”.
He emphasised that the PCB wanted cricket to remain free from politics, adding that preparations for the Champions Trophy would continue as planned.
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He said every participating country of the tournament desired that the event must be held in Pakistan.
“I have held discussions with every country, and they all wish to play cricket in Pakistan," the PCB chief said.
Earlier, Indian media reports claimed that the BCCI had refused to travel to Pakistan next year to play Champions Trophy cricket tournament.
According to The Indian Express, “the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), in a recent communication to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), have cited security concerns for the decision and expressed desire to play all their games in Dubai.”
Top eight teams of the world are to take part in the Feb 19 to March 9 50-over ICC event being held at Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai,” the Indian news outlet quoted a source as saying.
The Express reported that the BCCI took the decision “in consultation with the Indian government”. Last year before the Asia Cup, India, despite the pressure from host Pakistan, had managed to shift their matches to Sri Lanka.
There were hopes that India would be travelling to Pakistan after a recent meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Islamabad.
This was the first direct conversation at ministerial level since 2015 between the nations and there were speculations that cricket ties between the nations would resume.
The Indian media outlet added that Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman, was also in loop.
It may be recalled that Pakistan recently hosted England and Bangladesh. The last time India toured Pakistan was in the 2008 Asia Cup.
