The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, considers an invitation to India for a bilateral T20I series at a neutral venue in 2025. Contrastingly, it stands firm on its stand regarding not moving any of the Champions Trophy matches outside Pakistan.
The sources within the PCB said that Naqvi is going to offer a T20 series to the BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, during the ICC annual conference being held from July 19-22 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The matches are likely to be fitted into the free days between the two teams after the Champions Trophy.
"The proposal will be a focal point of discussion during the meeting of Mohsin Naqvi with Jay Shah," a PCB source said. With concerns expressed by the Indian government and the BCCI, citing security and political considerations that may prevent the Men-in-Blue from traveling for the Champions Trophy, the relocation of Champions Trophy matches to a neutral venue has been a key item on the agenda.
Pakistan has assured that all Champions Trophy matches involving the Indian cricket team will be held in Lahore, with the visiting team accommodated in a single hotel throughout the series so as to ensure comprehensive security measures.
The PCB has also recently acquired adjacent land to Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore for the construction of a 5-star hotel. Sources said that the construction would be done independently by the PCB, and it had targeted the beginning of next year for its completion. The new facility will obviate the need for visiting teams to stay in far-flung hotels, reducing the need for road closures for security purposes.
The duo is also likely to discuss the possibility of India sending its cricket team to Pakistan during the ICC annual conference in Colombo. While Naqvi will try to convince Shah, the decision will be taken by the Indian government rather than the BCCI.
This is because the Indian cricket team refused to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year and the matches were shifted to Sri Lanka. Since 2012, there haven't been any bilateral cricketing relations between the two arch-rivals of Pakistan and India for any ICC or ACC events due to the restriction by the Indian government.
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