https://arab.news/wbptx
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to represent Pakistan at ICC’s annual conference on Monday
- India likely to raise issues over traveling to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today, Sunday, to attend a key International Cricket Council (ICC) conference where discussions are likely to revolve around whether Pakistan will fully host the ICC Champions Trophy tournament next year or not.
Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy tournament scheduled to be played in the country from February to March 2025. However, doubts have been cast on whether Pakistan will host the entire tournament on its soil with India expected to refuse to travel to its neighboring country for the event.
No Indian cricket team has played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Relations between the two governments have deteriorated steadily since then, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks the same year.
Pakistan was forced to settle for a “hybrid” model last year when the Indian team refused to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup. India played its Asia Cup matches in Sri Lanka, including the final, in Colombo. However, Pakistan’s cricket team toured India later in 2023 to take part in the 50-over World Cup.
“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will arrive on a brief one-day tour in Sri Lanka today,” the board said in a statement.
“Chairman PCB will take part in the important ICC meeting tomorrow [Monday].”
The conference, which commenced on Friday, has brought together over 220 delegates from 108 ICC member countries from across the world, covering regions such as Africa, the Americas, Asia, East Asia Pacific, and Europe.
The gathering of cricket administrators and stakeholders from around the globe will provide the platform for discussions on the strategic direction of the sport, governance, and the development of cricket worldwide.
While the Champions Trophy hosting is not officially part of the conference’s agenda, both PCB and BCCI are expected to collide over the matter in discussions.