Champions Trophy
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasized on Saturday that politics and cricket must remain separate as the country prepares to host the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
He assured that all necessary preparations for the tournament, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, have been finalized.
However, the event has been clouded by controversy, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refusing to send its team to Pakistan, citing political and security concerns despite reassurances from all participating nations about security measures and a tentative match schedule.
An online meeting organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday sought to resolve the issue and announce the match schedule.
However, the discussion lasted only 15 minutes due to the unyielding positions of both the PCB and the BCCI. The PCB has made it clear that it will not accept a hybrid model, which would see all of India’s matches played outside Pakistan.
On the other hand, the BCCI continues to push for this hybrid arrangement. If the PCB rejects the model, the BCCI’s next move could be to advocate for relocating the Champions Trophy to another country.
In a recent post on X, the PCB revealed that Naqvi met with former UAE cricket board secretary Mubashshir Usmani in Dubai to discuss key matters concerning the organization of the Champions Trophy.
Naqvi reiterated the importance of separating politics from cricket, underscoring Pakistan’s peaceful environment and the country’s love for the sport. He pointed out that cricket fans in Pakistan are eagerly awaiting the tournament.
Naqvi further stated that the stadiums have been upgraded and that security arrangements are in place, ensuring the safety of all participants.
He assured that every team would be provided with state guest protocol and top-notch security. He expressed pride in hosting the Champions Trophy and extended a warm invitation to all participating teams, emphasizing that Pakistan would welcome them with open arms.
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