New Delhi. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is going to appeal again to see the Indian team play matches here. The new PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has planned to talk about India’s participation in next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan during the ICC meeting to be held in Dubai next week. He is expecting an assurance from BCCI Secretary Jai Shah that Team India will go to Pakistan to play but at present it is not a possibility.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board meeting will be held in Dubai next week. Naqvi plans to talk to top officials of the global body along with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Shah. But the Indian Board will not immediately commit to travel to Pakistan for the tournament to be held in February-March in 2025 because it is about a year away.
Champions Trophy is an ICC tournament and BCCI will not completely close its doors due to all other cricket playing nations going to Pakistan. But the green signal from the Government of India will be received at least a few weeks before the start of the tournament. Referring to the ‘hybrid model’ used last year, a PCB source said, “The biggest concern for the PCB is whether India will send its team to Pakistan and there will be no repeat of the issues of last year’s Asia Cup.” ‘
When a BCCI source was asked, he said, “Only the Government of India can take the decision on playing in Pakistan and the BCCI will have to follow the government’s orders.” Also, it would be too early to seek permission from the government. And if their new president is expecting any kind of assurance in March 2024 for the tournament to be held in February-March 2025, then he is mistaken.