New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set the record straight that it has made no proposal to play an offshore T20I series against India and is rather focusing on the smooth conduct of the Champions Trophy 2025, which they will be hosting. There was some news around the corner of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi holding discussions with the BCCI officials on the possibility of a T20I series between the arch-nemesis at an offshore venue.
The venue was speculated to be either England or Australia and speculations over it ran rife on social media and in the cricket world. However, a highly reliable source has confirmed that the PCB’s current focus lies on the conduct of the Champions Trophy 2025 and ticking off all of its aspects to make it a success as the hosts.
“There is no such proposal on the table or under consideration because right now the biggest challenge for us is to organise the Champions Trophy in a befitting manner and we also have a packed international schedule,” PTI quoted the source as saying. An ICC meeting was recently held in Colombo, Sri Lanka where several cricket boards marked their presence including the BCCI and the PCB.
The source further revealed that PCB had two major agendas at the ICC meet in Colombo – first, to get the budget approved for the Champions Trophy 2025 and secondly, to get assurances from the ICC and BCCI that the Men in Blue would come to play in Pakistan in the showpiece. “That is our main agenda right now. So, there is no question of contemplating any bilateral venture with India,” the source added.
Sour relations
India have long suspended the bilateral series with Pakistan since 2012 after the Men in Green had visited the country for a short white ball series. Both nations last played a Test series during Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007. The long-intact geopolitical tensions between the two nations have totally barred the Men in Blue from traveling across the border due to security concerns.
Even their participation at the Champions Trophy 2025 remains on the edge with speculations making rounds about Team India wanting to play their fixtures of the ODI showpiece outside Pakistan, at a neutral venue.
Pakistan Cricket Board has made it clear that there’s no such thing on the cards of Pakistan playing an offshore T20I series against India and has affirmed that it rather want to get assured of India’s participance at the Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
