India likely to play in Pakistan-hosted 2025 Champions Trophy: PCB Chairman

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed optimism on Sunday regarding India’s participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, set to be hosted in Pakistan.

The tournament, featuring eight teams, is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2025, with the final on March 9. Matches will take place in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.

India’s men’s cricket team last toured Pakistan in 2008, with political tensions hindering future visits. However, Naqvi remains confident that the Indian team will participate in the event.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi said, “I am fully confident in the Indian team's participation. There is nothing to suggest they will cancel or postpone, and we expect all teams to take part.”

Pakistan last hosted a major ICC event during the 1996 ODI World Cup and lost the opportunity to co-host the 2011 event after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009. India has hosted Pakistan's team several times since, with the most recent being the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Future ICC chairman Jay Shah plans to stay on as BCCI secretary

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is set to continue in his role until the end of November, despite his recent appointment as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Reports from an Indian media outlet indicate that the BCCI will not be seeking a replacement for Jay Shah during the upcoming Apex Council meeting.

Jay, who has been elected unopposed to the ICC position with support from 15 member nations, will officially take charge of the global cricket governing body on December 1.

However, his dual responsibilities pose a challenge for the BCCI, which now faces the task of finding a new secretary once Jay departs..

The Apex Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to address various operational issues within the board. Eight key issues will be addressed during the AGM, but the agenda does not include any discussions regarding the nomination process for a new secretary.

While the appointment of a new secretary was anticipated to be on the agenda, it has been confirmed that Jay will continue in his role until he transitions to the ICC.

Among the key issues to be discussed is the matter of Byju, the former title sponsor for the BCCI, which terminated its contract prematurely and has outstanding dues from October 2022 to March 2023.

There will also be a discussion on the inauguration of the state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy