'We Will Not Play Cricket If...': PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Hits Out At India For Refusing To Send Team

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that Pakistan can't travel to India for tournaments in future while India continue to refuse to send the team to the neighbouring nation for Champions Trophy, a situation he termed “unequal.”

The fate of the Champions Trophy hangs in balance after BCCI conveyed to ICC its inability to send the team to Pakistan, and the global body has convened a virtual meeting of its executive board members on Friday to take a final decision.

“It is just not possible that while Pakistan keeps on going and playing in India all events the Indian authorities are not willing to send their team to play in Pakistan. We can’t have such an unequal situation,” Naqvi told reporters last night at the Gaddafi stadium during a visit to inspect the construction work.

Naqvi, however, played it safe regarding the ‘Hybrid’ model for the Champions Trophy, as earlier he had asserted that PCB would not accept the proposed format.

“All I can assure is whatever happens in the meeting we will come out with good news and decisions which will be accepted by our people,” he said. There were reports of Pakistan being offered additional financial incentives to accept the Hybrid Model, but Naqvi remained non-committal. Naqvi said all such decisions and the outcome of the ICC meeting will be conveyed to the Pakistan government, which will take a final call.

Will Pakistan opt for Hybrid model for Champions Trophy ?

Pakistan will be hosting Champions Trophy next year, but India's decision not to send its cricket team to play in Pakistan has created a hurdle. The PCB has been adamant about not adopting a hybrid model, which would involve hosting some matches at a neutral venue. PCB chief also offered measures to address India's concerns, including assurances about security.