With the deadlock still on the issue of India travelling to Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy starting February 29, the last two weeks have seen ICC informing PCB about BCCI’s refusal to cross the border for the Champions Trophy. (PCB X and File)
Still sounding hopeful of Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy with India reportedly denying travel to Pakistan for the tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi has asserted that the tournament will happen in Pakistan and they are waiting for a response from the International Cricket Council on the issue. The PCB Chief also sounded his message to BCCI that the Indian board should talk with PCB and raise their concerns.
“We will achieve the target and we will get the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. All the teams (Other teams except India), which have qualified for Champions Trophy are ready to come to Pakistan and no one has any problem. I will say even today that if India has any concern, they should talk with us. We will clear any of their concerns. I believe there is no reason for which the Indian team cannot come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. You wait and all teams will come,” the PCB chief said while addressing the media at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Monday evening.
With the deadlock still on the issue of India travelling to Pakistan for the eight-team Champions Trophy starting February 29, the last two weeks have seen ICC informing PCB about BCCI’s refusal to cross the border for the Champions Trophy. The Indian Express had reported last week that PCB has been told by the Pakistan government not to move out of Pakistan. On being asked about Pakistan stance on the tournament being played in hybrid model or India games to be played outside Pakistan, Naqvi said PCB is committed to its stance to host the whole tournament in Pakistan. “Our stance is very clear. We have told it earlier. We will remain in our stance. ICC has to announce the tournament schedule. We are waiting for the schedule to be announced so that we can start preparations according to that. As soon as the schedule is announced, the sooner we will start our preparations,” said Naqvi.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s media talk at Gaddafi Stadium as he inspected the venue’s upgradation pic.twitter.com/kW7yzH68aY
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 18, 2024
Last week also saw the tour of Champions Trophy being restricted to host venues of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi apart from some cities in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after BCCI filed an objection with ICC over the PCB move to include Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) in the tour itinerary. Naqvi was in Lahore to oversee the construction of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium and spoke about the hosting rights. “I wanted to talk about stadiums only but let me tell you that we had written a letter. We are waiting for its response. Our interaction is with ICC only and we will wait for an answer from ICC. Even today, I believe that sports and politics are different. No nation should mix them. I still hope for the good,” said Naqvi.
Having been asked about ICC’s credibility over the hosting issue and the tour of the Champions trophy being rescheduled, the PCB chief said they have not got any confirmation about any cancellation. “I believe ICC has to think about its credibility. That it is the body of all the cricket boards in the world. And secondly, the Trophy tour has been rescheduled. Till now, we have not got any information regarding the cancellation,” said Naqvi.
The PCB chief also termed the hosting as an issue of Pakistan’s respect. When asked about boycotting the event, Naqvi still sounded hopeful of the resolvement of the deadlock. “Pakistan’s respect comes first. You see what happens next,” said Naqvi.
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