“Pakistan’s honor comes first”, PM tells Naqvi during Champions Trophy briefing

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here on Monday. The PCB chairman briefed the premier on Champions Trophy 2025 updates.

For the past several week India and Pakistan had been on a deadlock with regards to the Indian matches in the upcoming tournament. India refuses to send players to Pakistan, while Pakistan was adamant not to let the tournament move elsewhere from the country. However, now a hybrid model has been agreed, in principle, by both countries and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Naqvi promises not to disappoint nation over Champions Trophy formula

The details of the plan are yet to be announced, but the PCB chairman said on Saturday that the nation will not be disappointed with the results.

In today’s meeting, the prime minister appreciated the PCB chairman’s principled stance regarding the Champions Trophy, and expressed full confidence in Naqvi regarding the upcoming tournament.

“Your stance regarding the Champions Trophy tournament is the voice of every Pakistani’s heart,” the PM said to Naqvi, adding, “You represented the 240 million people of Pakistan at the ICC.”

“Pakistan’s honor comes first, everything else comes after that,” Shehbaz Sharif said. PCB Chairman Naqvi responded, “Pakistan is fully prepared to host the Champions Trophy. We want Pakistan and cricket to win.”

Naqvi reiterated that good news regarding the Champions Trophy will be announced soon.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR?

The ICC board was supposed to meet on Wednesday (December 4), but deferred the meeting to Saturday (December 7). However, sources said that before the ICC meeting, PCB Chairman Naqvi and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah held a meeting on Thursday (December 5).

Reportedly, Naqvi and Shah have agreed on a model acceptable to both countries, with some compromises made by both countries as well. Under this plan, sources say, all games between the two countries will be played at a neutral location. The plan will be in effect until 2027 for all ICC events scheduled to be hosted in India or Pakistan.

Champions Trophy: Hybrid model agreed upon ‘in principle’

For the India-Pakistan matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, there is a likelihood of Dubai being chosen as the venue. Initially, PCB was adamant not to choose a neutral location. But with the tournament approaching fast, along with pressure from the broadcasters, it appears that Pakistan has now opted to make certain concessions in return for reciprocal gestures from India.

Pakistan and India rivalry is one of the most-watched sport all across the world, and any course of action that removes these games from the ICC tournament would result in devastating losses for the ICC as well as both the countries.