Mohsin Naqvi talks about Champions Trophy’s fate in Pakistan

LAHORE: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, shared several updates regarding the fate of Champions Trophy in Pakistan on Thursday.

While speaking during a media briefing in Lahore, Naqvi announced that construction of a new stadium began on October 10. The mega project is expected to be completed between December 20 and December 25.

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The PCB chairman talked about the importance of having the stadium ready for the Champions Trophy. “I had not visited the Gaddafi Stadium for quite some time”, he said.

The new stadium is expected to accommodate between 35,000 and 40,000 spectators.

With the fate of Champions Trophy in Pakistan hanging in the air due to India’s reluctance, the Mohsin Naqvi addressed the ongoing dialogue with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and India.

“It is not feasible for us to travel for matches while India does not reciprocate by coming to Pakistan”, he said/

He indicated that any decisions regarding international matches would needto be communicated to the government to adhere to official protocols.  

“Our discussions with the ICC are ongoing”, he stated. “We have not received any formal communication from India”.

Despite the bleak situation, Naqvi continued to look at it with extreme optimism. He commented that the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, would prioritise ICC interests during upcoming matches.  

Addressing concerns about the current political climate in the country, the PCB chairman reassured the stallholders. “Pakistan is a peaceful nation and there is no need for alarm”.

His comments come amidst  ongoing political unrest and protest, raising concerns about the safety of hosting international events.

Pakistan has also seen an uptick in terrorist attacks in western part of the country, particularly in Baluchistan. Thousands of workers have been brutally killed by the banned militant organisation, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

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During the briefing, Naqvi also touched on the competitive landscape of the World Test Championships. He noted that the race for the final has intensified.

The media mogul stated that 16 test matches remained in the current cycle, with five teams contending for a place in the final at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.