Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, lauded Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his principled stance on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ARY News reported.
Naqvi, who is also serving as the Federal Interior Minister, met the Prime Minister in Islamabad and briefed on the progress of the prestigious event, which will be hosted in Pakistan.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif conveyed his deep admiration for Mohsin Naqvi’s principled and steadfast approach to the upcoming tournament.
“Your stance on the Champions Trophy is the voice of every Pakistani,” Sharif remarked.
Shehbaz Sharif, displaying unwavering support, further expressed his complete confidence in Naqvi’s leadership in navigating the complexities of the tournament’s hosting arrangements.
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“In the ICC, you represented Pakistan’s 240 million people,” Sharif added. “Pakistan’s honour comes first, and everything else follows.”
Mohsin Naqvi confidently informed Sharif that the PCB is fully prepared to host the prestigious Champions Trophy tournament on home soil.
“The PCB is fully prepared to host the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan,” Naqvi asserted. “We want Pakistan and cricket to succeed.”
Currently, the deadlock surrounding the eight-team tournament is at a standstill as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is awaiting a response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the PCB’s ‘fusion formula.’
The PCB proposed this ‘fusion formula’ in an effort to break the stalemate around the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
This proposal suggests that India, as they wanted, would be playing their matches at a neutral venue during the Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy. In exchange, the PCB is seeking a similar arrangement for future ICC events that will take place in India.
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