Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is preparing for a crucial meeting with Jai Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and newly elected Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). According to reports from Pakistani media, this significant discussion is expected to take place during the Women’s T20 World Cup final in Dubai next month.
Naqvi’s primary goal for the meeting is to discuss the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is set to host. However, the participation of the Indian cricket team remains in limbo, given the tense relations between the two nations. The last time India toured Pakistan was in 2008, and since 2012, there have been no bilateral series between the two arch-rivals. This upcoming tournament could mark the end of the 16-year wait for Indian cricket fans to see their team play on Pakistani soil.
PCB’s Push for Hosting the Entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held between February 19 and March 9, 2025. PCB has been actively pushing for the entire tournament to be hosted exclusively in Pakistan. For this, Naqvi is set to request ICC’s final approval on the schedule, hoping that the Indian team will participate in the event. The tournament holds great significance for Pakistan as it will be their first time hosting a major ICC event after 16 years, and the PCB is eager to make it a grand success.
However, India’s participation hinges not just on the ICC, but also on the Indian government. According to BCCI’s stance, any decision regarding India’s involvement in the Champions Trophy will be made in consultation with the government. If the Indian team is allowed to travel to Pakistan, Lahore has been proposed as their base for the tournament.
Can Jai Shah Help End the Wait?
Jai Shah’s decision as the new ICC Chairman will play a pivotal role in resolving this situation. While Pakistan is gearing up for a full-fledged hosting experience, including booking venues and upgrading facilities, they remain reliant on India’s participation to make the tournament a global spectacle. The Indian team’s participation would bring immense excitement and prestige to the event, and fans on both sides of the border are hoping for a positive outcome.
There’s growing anticipation around the meeting, and cricket enthusiasts are waiting to see if Jai Shah will extend the olive branch, enabling India to return to Pakistani soil after over a decade and a half. An official announcement regarding the tournament schedule is expected from the ICC in October, and this meeting between Shah and Naqvi could lay the groundwork for historic decisions.
ICC’s Inspection and Approval Pending
In preparation for the Champions Trophy, an ICC delegation recently visited and inspected the venues in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. According to reports, the delegation expressed satisfaction with the current progress of stadium preparations, indicating that Pakistan is ready to host the event.
If Jai Shah and the BCCI give their approval, it will likely trigger further infrastructural developments and operational planning. Pakistan’s cricket administration is keen to finalize the logistics as soon as possible, making this meeting between Naqvi and Shah one of the most anticipated in recent years for both cricketing boards.
