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Follow UsPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that he and the PCB are ‘confident’ that the Indian team will travel to Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy next year, and will not request their games to be played at a neutral venue.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is currently scheduled to be played entirely in Pakistan from February 2025 but there are still major doubts over India’s willingness to play in the country.
Pakistan were also the official ‘hosts’ of Asia Cup 2023 but all of India’s matches were played in Sri Lanka as the team refused to travel to Pakistan due to security reasons.
Naqvi, though, is confident that such a situation won’t arise in four months’ time.
"The Indian team should come. I don't see them cancel or postpone coming here and we are confident we will host all the teams in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan," the PCB chairman said in Lahore, reported ESPNcricinfo.
Naqvi also assured that some stadiums which are being renovated would be ‘fully ready’ in time for the mega event.
Recently, the PCB shifted multiple Tests away from Karachi due to ongoing construction at the venue.
“The stadiums will also be ready to host the matches on schedule and any remaining work would be completed after the tournament. In a way, you can say that we are going to have a brand new stadium,” Naqvi said.
When asked to comment on Pakistan’s captaincy situation in white-ball cricket, with Babar Azam resigning last week, the PCB chairman said that he’s asked the selection committee to take a careful decision taking into account the future.
"I have told them to take a decision after careful consideration because the captain's position is important,” Naqvi said.
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