PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Friday (November 8) said that he is yet to hear from the BCCI regarding India’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan early next year.
Naqvi's comment comes amidst reports claiming India’s unwillingness to travel to Pakistan for the showpiece tournament.
According a report published in The Indian Express, the BCCI has already communicated to the PCB that the Indian team can’t travel across the border due to security concerns.
However, Mohsin Naqvi refuted all these reports, saying he is yet to receive anything in writing, and if he receives an official communication, only then he can share it with the media and Pakistan government.
"I have not received anything in writing. If we receive something in writing, I will immediately share it with you and the government, and then we will decide what needs to be done," Naqvi told reporters.
"For 2 months, there have been reports in the Indian media that the Indian team won't come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. We have a clear stance, they should give us their stance in writing, if they have any issue. Till now, we haven't heard anything regarding the hybrid model and we are also not ready to hear about it," he added.
Addressing the media, Mohsin Naqvi further stated that if India refuse to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, then the PCB will also have a look at their stance of going to the neighboring country for global events.
"If Indian media is reporting on this fact, then there must be a letter that the ICC or BCCI needs to give us. We haven't received anything of that sort. We want cricket to not be mixed with politics. There should be no politics. We are preparing for the Champions Trophy, we hope it would be a successful tournament," Naqvi said.
"If the Indian team eventually does not come here, then we would be required to go to our government. Then whatever they will decide, we will have to abide by that. For the past few years, Pakistan have been doing good gestures, but every time we are not obligated to make good gestures," he remarked.
The BCCI officials have time and again said that the Indian government will make the final decision on whether the national will travel across the border for the global event. However, the PCB chief remains positive.
"I am still very positive. Cricket should not be mixed with politics. Only time will tell, how things proceed ahead," Naqvi said.
According to the tentative schedule proposed by the PCB, the Champions Trophy is slated to get underway on February 19, 2025. The final is scheduled on March 9 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.
All of India's matches have been kept in Lahore for security and logistical reasons, with the marquee India versus Pakistan clash is due to be played on March 1.
The PCB is reportedly spending almost 13 billion rupees on upgrading its stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi where the Champions Trophy matches would be held.
However, The Indian Express has reported about the BCCI clearly explaining its stance to the PCB.
"This has been our stance and there is no reason to change that. We have written to them and asked them to shift our games to Dubai," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
Notably, Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but India played all of their matches in Sri Lanka under a 'hybrid model'.
Earlier, as per reports, the PCB had given the Indian board an option of their team returning to Amritsar or Chandigarh after playing every Champions Trophy game in Pakistan.
