Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday, November 8, that there has been no official communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding any update from the Indian cricket board on their participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Naqvi addressed a press conference following reports that the BCCI had informed the ICC of its reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the marquee 50-over tournament.
The stand-off over the Champions Trophy appears to have intensified due to uncertainty around India’s potential travel to Pakistan, which holds the hosting rights for the eight-team tournament scheduled for February-March 2025.
India Today earlier reported that it is highly unlikely India will travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, with India’s matches likely to be held at a neutral venue.
However, Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the PCB is not currently considering a hybrid model and emphasised that the Pakistan board has not received any formal communication from the BCCI about India’s participation.
“We need everything in writing if India has any issues with traveling to Pakistan. As for the BCCI, we have not received anything from the ICC if the BCCI has written anything to them,” Naqvi said on Friday.
“So far, we have not spoken anything on the hybrid model, nor are we ready to discuss that issue,” Naqvi added.
“Our preparations for the Champions Trophy are on course and will continue in the same fashion. If India does decide to pull out, we will seek advice from our government and will respond accordingly, as we have been very cordial with the BCCI on so many occasions in the past,” he added.
Earlier in the day, PCB sources rejected rumours of it accepting a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy and that it was planning to host the entire tournament in Pakistan.
Notably, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year in hybrid model with only four matches going to Pakistan while the remaining ones, including the final, held in Sri Lanka.
