Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dismissed all the reports claiming that they accept the “hybrid model” presented by BCCI. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that his board “is not prepared” to accept any changes in the schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025. He was addressing the media in Gaddafi Stadium, which is undergoing renovation for the upcoming ICC event in Pakistan.
For the last two months, Indian media have reported that the Indian national team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.“In the last two months, the Indian media has been reporting that India isn’t traveling,” I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB.”
The two teams haven’t played any bilateral series since Pakistan visited India for 3 3-match ODI series where Pakistan won the series by 2-1. The two nations haven’t played any test cricket since Pakistan toured India in 2007, where India won the test series.
Naqvi believed that Pakistan had shown “great gestures” in the past, referring to Pakistan traveling to India for the ODI World Cup 2023. “If we get a letter from India, I’ll have to go to my government and have to abide by their decisions. Pakistan has shown great gestures to India in the past, and we’d like to say clearly India shouldn’t expect such friendly gestures from us every time [if they refuse to come]. The government will decide if Pakistan travel for any future event in India if they don’t come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The PCB will not decide that.”
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said who is also Pakistani’s interior minister. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. If you don’t get along with another country, that’s another matter, but politics should not be involved in sport.”
The Champions Trophy will start on 19 February between Pakistan vs New Zealand. All the matches of the tournament will be held across three venues, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, with Lahore hosting all the Indian matches.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
