• Mohsin Naqvi advised officials to avoid discussing India’s involvement  in the Champions Trophy 2025..
• This changes the PCB’s previous approach of criticizing India.
• PCB submitted documents to the ICC, awaiting ICC’s effort to involve India.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed all board officials to avoid public discourse regarding India’s potential involvement in the Champions Trophy 2025.

This new directive deviates from the PCB’s previous tendency to openly criticize India.

The Asia Cup 2023, initially planned to be hosted by Pakistan, was shifted to a hybrid format with Sri Lanka due to India’s non-participation.

Following comments from BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla about possible Pakistani countermeasures if India opts out of the Champions Trophy 2025, reports indicate Naqvi’s order is a response to maintain a neutral stance.

“That is why, in recent days, there is no comments or statement coming from either Naqvi or any other board official on what will happen if India doesn’t send its team to Pakistan. The PCB has sent the draft schedule and submitted all other documents, including security plans for each team, to the ICC. Now it is for the onus of the ICC to convince India to send its team,” a source from PCB conveyed to PTI.

Opting for a silent approach, the PCB is deferring to the ICC after submitting the necessary documents and security plans at the ICC’s annual meeting.

“It is clear Naqvi doesn’t want to show the PCB’s cards on what will be the reaction of the board if India again refuses to send its team, but behind closed doors, after meetings with the government officials, a strategy has been finalized,” revealed another insider.

As Pakistan gears up to host a significant event for the first time since the 2008 Asia Cup, the PCB is diligently preparing for a successful tournament. Nevertheless, the uncertainty of India’s attendance at the Champions Trophy 2025 remains a pressing concern for the PCB.

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