Pakistan will host 2025 Champions Trophy despite India's reluctance to travel: PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is confident that his country will successfully host the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and that the board was not considering moving the tournament out of the nation. This comes amid the continuing speculation surrounding India's participation in the showpiece event. Naqvi revealed that he had held talks with BCCI secretary Jay Shah regarding the matter, on the sidelines of the ICC meeting that was held in Dubai last week.

“Yes we spoke for a while and it was cordial but it would be unwise to divulge details of what was discussed,” said Naqi while speaking at a press conference during the Pakistan Super League final.

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Asked if India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan would cause the tournament to be shifted out of Pakistan, Naqvi said, “I am not even thinking on those lines we are confident we will host the Champions Trophy on schedule in Pakistan.”

His comments come after an ICC board member told news agency PTI recently that it will not ask India to defy any government policy that bars travel to Pakistan.

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Naqvi added that the PCB was also prepared to deal with any situation as the event came closer.

He outlined that three stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, which would host the most Champions Trophy matches, would undergo renovation.

“Even as I speak plans have been drawn up and work will begin soon on these three stadiums to give the fans the best experience of watching the matches at the venues,” he added. The last time an Indian cricket team travelled to Pakistan was the Asia Cup in June-July of 2008.

Last year’s Asia Cup, which was to be held in Pakistan, was ultimately conducted in a hybrid manner with just four games held here and the rest in Sri Lanka after the Indian team refused to travel.

With PTI inputs