Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @MohsinnaqviC42
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi stated on Monday that he is still awaiting a response from the ICC regarding the BCCI‘s refusal to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Earlier this month, the BCCI informed the ICC that it would not send its national team to Pakistan and requested that its matches be held in a neutral venue. The PCB has rejected the hybrid model and has asked the ICC for clarity on India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan. Notably, India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The ICC event is scheduled for February-March.
“If India has any concerns about sending their team to Pakistan, they must talk to us and we will remove them. I don’t think there is any reason for India not to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” Naqvi told reporters.
Naqvi, who also serves as the federal interior minister, confirmed that the PCB has sent a letter to the ICC seeking clarification on the BCCI’s decision. “We are directly interacting with the ICC and we are still waiting for a response from them so we can take things forward,” he said.
When asked whether Jay Shah’s appointment as ICC chairman on December 1 would complicate the matter, Naqvi responded, “Things don’t work like this, every board is independent and has its own say, and I think the ICC must also think about its credibility as it represents all cricket boards of the world.”
Naqvi did not address questions about Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, being removed from the Champions Trophy Tour or whether Pakistan would consider the hybrid model. The BCCI had raised strong objections to the Trophy Tour’s planned stops in the disputed region.
Naqvi redirected focus to the progress on construction projects related to the Champions Trophy, saying, “I am here to talk about the construction work progress, and we are waiting for the ICC to respond to us as they also have to announce the schedule.”
He mentioned that renovation work is on track, with construction and finishing at the stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi ahead of schedule.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
