'That time has passed': PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi says no more begging India over sporting ties

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has made an explosive statement, saying that they will not plead with India anymore to resume sporting ties. India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since 2012 and only face off in multi-nation events conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Earlier this year, the BCCI decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. In reply, the PCB said Pakistan will also not travel to India for any tournament until at least 2027, which includes the 2025 Women’s World Cup and 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Before that, India refused to go to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. Still, Pakistan sent their team to India for the Cricket World Cup later that same year, hoping the Indian side would travel for the 2025 Champions Trophy. But when the BCCI refused to replicate the same gesture, it pissed off the PCB.

Naqvi says no begging India for resumption of sporting ties

Naqvi is the current ACC president, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has the hosting rights for this year’s Asia Cup. Naqvi said any future talks between India and Pakistan will only happen on equal terms.

“I think we are very clear that whenever talks are held will be on an equal footing with India and there will be no more begging for negotiations. That time has passed and whatever will happen will be on the basis of equality,” Naqvi said during a press conference in Lahore.

Naqvi’s comment has come just days before the start of the 2025 Asia Cup , which is slated to be held in the UAE and will see India and Pakistan go head-to-head against each other for the second time this year. There is also a possibility of additional matches if both teams qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament.

India’s sports ministry recently announced a new policy, ending all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, even at neutral venues. But they can still face each other in multi-nation tournaments. This means that the Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan will go ahead as planned.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to lock horns against each other on September 14 in the preliminary stage of the Asia Cup.