Reports have been surfacing that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was offering the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) “additional financial incentives” if they would accede to a Hybrid Model for the 2025 Champions Trophy made PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi make clear on Thursday that the board was not ready to relinquish its rights for such reasons. Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s federal interior minister, said while the PCB will always have the country’s best interest at heart, they are not ready to “sell out” just for more money. He further added that any proposal where Pakistan will play its matches in India while India will not play in Pakistan is “unacceptable” to the PCB.
“Will Not Sell Our Rights Just For More Money”: Naqvi
“I promise you that we’ll not just sell our rights out just for more money. This will never happen. But we’ll do whatever is best for Pakistan,” Naqvi reportedly said during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday morning.
Champions Trophy Schedule Still Not Finalised
The 2025 Champions Trophy will be the first edition is likely to be staged across the three cities of Pakistan i.e Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore in Feb and March of the next year but the BCCI had declined to come for the event which will be hosted in Pakistan that has marred the tournament’s very future. The ICC also failed to meet a contractual deadline of the announced schedule for the tournament and suffered financial losses unless a viable solution comes along.
Pakistan Not Ready To Play In India After BCCI’s Refusal
“Our stance is very clear. I promise we’ll do what is best for Pakistan cricket. I’m constantly in touch with the ICC chairman and my team is talking to them constantly,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. “We’re still clear in our stance that it’s not acceptable that we play cricket in India, and they don’t play cricket here. Whatever will happen, will happen on the basis of equality. We’ve told the ICC very clearly, and what happens next we’ll let you know.”
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Will Pakistan Lose Its Hosting Rights? Latest Report Sparks New Debate
The ICC has summoned an emergency meeting to be held on November 29, where board members will be faced with the questions about the tournament and lingering issues, while PCB continues opposing the Hybrid Model.
