Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali felt the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would end up losers if they accepted to a reported compromise deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC), terming that the offer to host the women’s World Cup in 2027 was nothing but a ‘lollipop’ from the global body.
As a concession, the ICC, BCCI and PCB have also agreed that the Pakistan men's team won't travel to India for their league game against the hosts in the T20 World Cup 2026 and will instead play the match in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
According to multiple sources, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is currently in the UAE, lobbying for Pakistan’s cause, has put forward a list of conditions, in a bid to help Pakistan retain the hosting rights of the marque tournament.
The impasse over the 2025 Champions Trophy continued as the all-powerful ICC board meeting failed to reach a consensus after meeting virtually for a little over 20 minutes on Friday, and is likely to meet again over the weekend to find a solution.
With fewer than 100 days left until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan, the tournament's dates and fixtures remain unannounced, adding to the mounting uncertainty surrounding the event.
Exuding confidence that the ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, the country’s cricket board chief Mohsin Naqvi said all teams, including India, will take part in it. India haven’t sent their team to Pakistan since July 2008 due to political tensions between the two countries.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali lashed out at the country’s current set of pace bowlers for belittling ex-South Africa pacer Morne Morkel during the latter’s brief stint as the Men-in-Green’s bowling coach last year.
The NOC rejections for the star trio have a lot to do with Pakistan’s packed international calendar from October 2024 to May 2025.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Billy Ibadulla passed away on Friday at the age of 88. The former cricketer played four Tests between 1964 and 1967 and was the first Pakistan batter to score a century on his Test debut.
Abdul Razzaq was a part of the men’s and women’s selection committee, while Wahab was a selector of the men’s team.
