Pakistan pursues T20I series with India at neutral venue

PCB insists Champions Trophy be held in Pakistan, as Chairman Naqvi seeks to convince BCCI amid ongoing security talks

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Due to ongoing political tensions, Pakistan and India have not engaged in a bilateral cricket series since 2012. The Indian government has directed its cricket board to limit encounters with Pakistan to ICC or ACC events.

Currently, there's a debate about whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy. Initially, the Indian media hinted positively, but recently, discussions have intensified about the team not crossing the border.

Amidst this, the ICC's annual conference is taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the agenda includes potentially relocating the Champions Trophy matches to another country, albeit with an additional budget.

Last year, the Indian team refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, leading to their matches being held in Sri Lanka. This time, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has firmly stated that the hybrid model is unacceptable and insists that the entire event must take place in Pakistan.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in Colombo, where he is expected to meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chief Jay Shah to persuade him to send the Indian team to Pakistan. However, the PCB acknowledges that the final decision will be made by the Indian government, not the BCCI.

Sources indicate that before departing for Sri Lanka, senior PCB officials agreed to invite India for a T20 series at a neutral venue next year. Mohsin Naqvi will discuss this proposal with Jay Shah, with matches potentially scheduled during the free days of both teams after the Champions Trophy.

It is worth mentioning that Australia and England have invited Pakistan and India to play a series in their countries, but Pakistan has not yet made a decision regarding the host. The plan will only proceed if Jay Shah responds positively.

Naqvi will also meet senior officials from other cricket boards to discuss arrangements and security for the Champions Trophy. Except for India, no other country has expressed reservations about touring Pakistan, and the PCB remains optimistic that all teams will participate. Rumours about Afghanistan's hesitations have been proven false.

Additionally, the PCB has purchased an adjacent plot to the National Cricket Academy to construct a five-star hotel. Discussions with major hotel chains are ongoing, with one proposal suggesting the PCB build the hotel itself.

This project, set for completion in the coming years, aims to eliminate the need for teams to stay in distant hotels, thereby ending road closures for security. Only the area adjacent to Gaddafi Stadium will be closed during matches.