ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan: Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of PCB, in an interview, said he was very confident that the 2025 Champions Trophy would take place in Pakistan with all the teams including India. The tournament would be played from February 19 till March 9 after the final and the matches would take place in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.

Since July 2008, India has not sent its team to Pakistan due to political tensions. But Naqvi said next year the Indian team would be visiting and assured that all preparations are ready. The stadiums will be in top condition for this prestigious ICC event, he said.

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“The Indian team should come. I do not see them canceling or delaying their visit, and we are confident that we will be hosting all teams for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore. “The stadiums would be ready to host matches and any remaining work would be completed post-tournament. You could say we are set to unveil brand new stadiums.”

PCB Chairman said, "I'm very confident that team India will travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy". pic.twitter.com/oojNkSwR6T

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 7, 2024

When asked whether External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar of India would visit Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave on October 15-16, Naqvi downplayed any meeting. “He is coming, but I don’t think the details of his meetings have been finalized,” he noted.

Recently, BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said that the Indian government would take the last call if India would participate in the Champions Trophy.

Naqvi further stressed the need for thoughtful decisions, especially about Babar Azam’s resignation from white-ball captaincy. “I have told the selection committee to take their time and consider the long term,” he said.

He asked whether it was the right time to introduce new faces to national teams. The selection committee, along with the captain and the head coach, assured him that they were happy with the composition of the team. “I told them that was okay; it’s their call,” he added. At a time when the excitement for the Champions Trophy is building up, Naqvi’s optimism reflects a larger hope of cricketing diplomacy and better relations between the two countries.

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