Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that he has not yet received any response from the ICC on BCCI's (Board of Control for Cricket in India) refusal to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The BCCI had made it clear to the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this month that it would not send its national team to Pakistan. The BCCI wants its matches to be held in some other country.
The PCB has rejected the 'hybrid model' and has sought clarity from the ICC on why India does not want to travel to Pakistan. The Indian team has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
"If India has any concerns about sending its team to Pakistan, they should talk to us and we will address them. I don't think there is any reason for India not to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy," Naqvi told reporters.
Naqvi is also the Home Minister of Pakistan. He said that the PCB has written a letter to the ICC for more information on the BCCI decision.
He said, "We are in direct contact with the ICC and we are waiting for a response from them so that we can take things forward."
Naqvi was asked whether things would become more difficult for the PCB if Jay Shah takes over as ICC president from December 1.
He said, “Things do not work like this. Every board is independent and has its own identity. I think the ICC should also think about its credibility because it represents all the cricket boards of the world.”
On this occasion, Naqvi dodged questions like the removal of cities of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) from the exhibition tour of the ICC Champions Trophy and organizing the tournament with a hybrid model.
He said, "I have come here to talk about the construction work of the stadium. We are waiting for the announcement of the program along with the response of the ICC. We will complete the construction of the stadium in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi before time."
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