As the countdown begins for another high-octane India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made his stance on bilateral cricket with India crystal clear.
PCB’s Longstanding Efforts
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has repeatedly tried to resume bilateral cricket with India, but the BCCI has consistently declined. Despite India-Pakistan matches being some of the most watched and commercially successful fixtures in cricket, the two teams now only meet in multi-nation tournaments.
The ongoing disputes extend beyond bilateral series. Hosting rights for multi-nation events have also been a sticking point. Although India holds the official hosting rights for this year’s Asia Cup, the tournament is being played in the UAE, a neutral venue, following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year.
Talks on Equal Footing
Speaking in Lahore just days before the Asia Cup, Naqvi, who also serves as the Asian Cricket Council chairman, emphasized that future negotiations with India will happen on equal terms.
“I think we are very clear that whenever talks are held, it will be on an equal footing with India, and there will be no more begging for negotiations. That time has passed, and whatever will happen will be based on equality,” he said.
India’s Stand
Earlier, the Indian government confirmed that there will be no bilateral cricket with Pakistan in the foreseeable future, though both sides can continue facing each other in multi-nation tournaments like the Asia Cup.
Asia Cup 2025 Showdown
India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash on September 14 during the league stage, with the possibility of meeting again in the later stages of the tournament.
With tensions over bilateral cricket still unresolved, this high-profile encounter is set to grab the spotlight once again, as fans across the subcontinent gear up for one of the biggest fixtures in the cricket calendar.
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