PCB chief denies receiving official confirmation on India’s participation in CT 2025

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Friday that the PCB has not received any official communication regarding India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy, despite media reports suggesting that the Indian cricket team may decline to play the tournament matches in Pakistan.

Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9, 2025, following their victory in the last edition of the tournament in 2017.

However, the strained political relations between India and Pakistan have prevented the two teams from playing bilateral series since 2008, with the rivals only meeting at multi-team events like the ICC tournaments.

India, the defending Asia Cup champions, had also declined to travel to Pakistan for the 2022 Asia Cup, with all their matches played in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model,” citing a lack of government permission to tour Pakistan.

In a media briefing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, Naqvi acknowledged the recent reports in Indian media regarding the travel plans of the Indian cricket team.

He reiterated that the PCB has not received any formal communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding India’s position on the Champions Trophy.

“We have a clear stance that they must give it to us in writing if they [the Indian cricket board] have any issues. Till today, we have not spoken about any hybrid model, but we’re ready to speak on this,” Naqvi said. “If Indian media is reporting this, then there must be some letter the ICC will give us, or the Indian Board might have written this somewhere. Till now, no such letter has reached me or the PCB.”

“We want cricket to be devoid of politics. No sport in the world should have these kinds of politics,” he said.

“For the past few years, Pakistan has continued to show good gestures, and we hope that we are not expected to show good gestures each time,” he added.

Naqvi also expressed optimism that the ICC would announce the tournament schedule soon and stated that he had been in contact with various cricket boards, all of which have shown interest in participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

“From what I know, every country wants the Champions Trophy to take place here,” he said, adding that he hoped all teams would be patient and “coolheaded” in their approach to the event.

Indian media reports on Friday suggested that India may not send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and would prefer to play its matches at a neutral venue.