Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday (November 30) interacted with Emirates Cricket Board head Mubashir Usmani in Dubai amid discussions on a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, slated to be held in February-March next year.
As per a PCB statement regarding the meeting, Naqvi told Usmani that Pakistan was ready to stage the Champions Trophy and all the preparations were on schedule.
According to a PTI report, quoting sources, Naqvi also said that the situation in Pakistan was stable and all teams featuring in the showpiece tournament would be provided state level security.
The PCB chief further stated that the construction work at the stadiums, which will host the Champions Trophy, was also on schedule and the people of Pakistan were eagerly waiting to see the best teams and players play in the country.
Naqvi later told reporters, “I don’t want to comment too much because that can ruin things. We have given our point of view (to the ICC), the Indians have also given theirs. The effort is to ensure a win-win for all,”
“Cricket should win, that’s most important but with respect for all. We are going to do what’s best for cricket. Whichever formula we go for, it would be on equal terms,” he added.
“Pakistan’s pride is most important. We have to ensure that cricket wins but Pakistan’s pride also remains intact.”
On Friday (November 29), the ICC told PCB to either adopt the hybrid model or be prepared to be ousted from the event after the PCB's firm stand led to an inconclusive meeting of its executive board.
The meeting in Dubai was meant to decide the fate of the Champions Trophy but could not achieve a consensus after Pakistan once again rejected the hybrid model. The BCCI has already refused to send its team across the border, citing security concerns.
It is leant that most of the ICC board members were sympathetic towards Pakistan's situation, but Naqvi was asked to accept the hybrid model as the only "plausible solution" for the current imbroglio.
In case of the hybrid model, India will most probably play all their Champions Trophy matches in UAE.
(With PTI Inputs)
