Pakistan offers ‘all possible cooperation’ to Riyadh for promotion of cricket, construction of stadiums

The screengrab taken from a video released by Pakistan’s state press agency on December 18, 2024, shows Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, meeting Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishal Al Saud, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Screengrab/YouTube/@APPTVLIVE)
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  • PCB chairman and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi is in Riyadh to discuss security cooperation, cricketing ties
  • Naqvi invites Saudi cricket federation chairman to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy being held in February next year

ISLAMABAD: Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has offered “all possible cooperation” to Saudi Arabia for the promotion of cricket and the construction of stadiums in the Middle Eastern nation, where the sport is growing in popularity, the PCB said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, has been on a visit to Riyadh since Sunday to discuss security cooperation and cricketing ties.

“Naqvi offered all possible cooperation in promotion of cricket and construction of stadiums,” the PCB said in a statement, as the PCB chairman met the head of the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishal Al Saud, in Riyadh and discussed trainings for Saudi players in Pakistan.

“Naqvi said that a players exchange program can be started for cricket development. Saudi Arabia can send its emerging players to Pakistan and will provide full support in terms of cricket development and construction of stadiums.”

According to the statement, there are about 18,000 cricket players in Saudi Arabia, which has also won the Asian Cricket Council Challenge Cup. Naqvi also extended an invitation to Prince Saud to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy which will be held in February and March next year. 

Last January, in a move to strengthen cricket ties between the two countries, then chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi, said his country was prepared to share its expertise in the sport with Saudi Arabia.