Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly ordered fellow PCB officials to refrain from issuing any statement or comment regarding India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
According to recent reports, the PCB has given up on convincing the BCCI to send the Indian team to Pakistan for next year’s showpiece event. It now wants the ICC to take care of the entire matter. And to ensure that no unnecessary controversy takes place, Mohsin Naqvi has asked the officials not to make any statement regarding India’s stance.
According to a PTI report, Mohsin Naqvi only wants to focus on preparations for the tournament and wants the ICC to convince the BCCI. The report also claims that the PCB is taking it for granted that India will visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year.
“That is why there has been no comment or statement from either Naqvi or any other board official over the last few days on what will happen if India does not send its team to Pakistan,” a PCB source told the media outlet.
The PCB is taking all possible steps to ensure that it is well prepared to host the tournament. The board has already submitted the preliminary schedule and all necessary documents, including security plans for each team, to the ICC. Mohsin Naqvi wants the PCB to focus solely on preparations and avoid speaking publicly about India’s stance.
“The PCB has sent the draft schedule and submitted all other documents, including security plans for each team, to the ICC. It is now up to the Champions Trophy owners to convince India to send their team,” the source said.
Mohsin Naqvi keeps his cards secret:
Another PCB source said that Mohsin Naqvi does not want to reveal his strategy if India decides not to visit Pakistan next year. The source said that the PCB chief recently met Pakistan government officials and finalised a strategy.
“It is clear that Naqvi does not want to show the PCB’s cards on what will be the board’s reaction if India again refuses to send its team, but behind closed doors after meetings with government officials a strategy has been finalised,” the source said.
India has not visited Pakistan since 2008 as bilateral ties between the BCCI and PCB are suspended due to political tension between the two nations. Though Pakistan visited India in 2016 and 2023 for ICC events, India has remained firm on its stance of not crossing the border.
