Champions trophy 2025: PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi to seek participation assurance from BCCI at Dubai meet

As ICC’s meeting will get underway in Dubai next week, Pakistan Cricket Board Chief, Mohsin Naqvi will anticipate assurance from the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on whether India will be participating in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. The proceedings however will take a backseat as of now. As the Dubai meet-up is on the cards, Naqvi will seek affirmation from the global body’s top brass.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place during February- March 2025 in Pakistan. It is highly unlikely that the Indian government will decide for the team to travel to Pakistan. The government had previously declined players to go to the neighbouring country during the Asia Cup 2023. With still a year left for the marquee tournament, the Indian stakeholders will come up with a decision at least weeks before the tournament commences. 

''The biggest worry for the PCB is whether India will send its team to Pakistan and there is no repeat of last year's Asia Cup issues. This is an ICC event and Pakistan went last year to India for the World Cup. Naqvi will try to convince the ICC and BCCI that they need to confirm that India will be coming to Pakistan as early as possible as it will help promote the CT for them,” a PCB source said as quoted by India Today.

PCB to improve infrastructure ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Last year things went upside down as BCCI and the government decided to abstain players from travelling to the cross-border nation. As a result, the Asia Cup was held in Sri Lanka, and a small chunk of matches in Pakistan without the Indian team’s fixtures there. Naqvi in pursuit of a hassle-free hosting of the 2025 ICC tournament, will also pitch the idea of improving infrastructure. With this move, the stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will expect upgrades. 

On being asked about their stance on the matter, a BCCI source said: "Playing in Pakistan is something that only Indian government can decide and BCCI will have to follow the government diktat. Also it is too early to even ask for government's permission and if their new chairman is expecting some kind of assurance in March 2024 for a tournament in Feb-March 2025, he is mistaken."