Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that any decision regarding the hosting of the 2025 Champions Trophy will be made on the principle of “equality.”
With the International Cricket Council (ICC) set to discuss the matter and possibly vote on it on November 29, Naqvi reaffirmed that the PCB’s stance remains firm on the issue.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Naqvi stated that he had been in constant communication with ICC chairman Greg Barclay and that the PCB team was actively engaged with ICC representatives. Mohsin Naqvi said,
Our stance is very clear. We are committed to doing what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m in touch with the ICC chairman, and my team is speaking with them regularly. We’ve made it clear to the ICC that any decision should be based on equality.
Naqvi also emphasized that the PCB will not accept a situation where Pakistan plays cricket in India, but Indian teams do not travel to Pakistan.
“It’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t come here,” he reiterated. “Whatever happens next will be based on equality. We’ve made that position clear to the ICC, and we’ll inform you of the next steps in due course.”
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is slated to be hosted by PCB in Pakistan across three venues in February and March of next year. However, India, who have not toured Pakistan since 2008, informed the ICC earlier this month that their government has not granted permission for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan for the event.
In response to this, Naqvi has consistently rejected the idea of a “hybrid model,” which would see Pakistan host most of the games, but any matches involving India played at a neutral venue. “We are clear on this: they need to provide us with written objections if they have any,” Naqvi stated earlier. “We have not agreed to, nor are we willing to accept, a hybrid model.”
Naqvi’s comments also referenced Pakistan’s future involvement in international events hosted by India. India is set to host the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup and co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup alongside Sri Lanka. Naqvi’s remarks suggest that PCB may reconsider Pakistan’s participation in these tournaments unless the situation with the Champions Trophy is resolved equitably.
Mohsin Naqvi concluded by reiterating that the PCB’s goals at the ICC meeting were not financially motivated. “I promise you, we will not sell our rights just for more money. That will never happen. We will always do what is best for Pakistan,” he asserted.
With the ICC meeting fast approaching, all eyes will be on how the situation unfolds and whether Pakistan’s commitment to equality in international cricket will be upheld.