Karachi: Pakistan is keen on having a series with India at a neutral venue next year. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will propose this idea to BCCI Chief Jay Shah in Colombo.
Due to political tensions, Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral cricket series for a long time.
The Indian government has directed its board on this matter, allowing encounters only during ICC or ACC events.
Currently, there is debate about whether the Indian team will visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year.
While earlier, Indian media hinted positively, recent discussions suggest the team might not cross the border.
The ICC annual conference is currently taking place in Colombo, with the agenda including a mention of an additional budget for hosting Champions Trophy matches at a venue other than Pakistan.
Last year, India had refused to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup, resulting in the matches being held in Sri Lanka.
However, PCB has made it clear this time that it will not accept a hybrid model and insists that the entire event must be held in Pakistan.Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in Colombo and is expected to meet with BCCI Chief Jay Shah on the sidelines of the meetings.
He will try to persuade Shah to send the Indian team to Pakistan.
However, PCB knows that the decision will ultimately be made by the Indian government, not the BCCI.
Sources indicate that before leaving for Sri Lanka, PCB’s senior officials agreed to invite India to a T20 series at a neutral venue next year.
Mohsin Naqvi will discuss this with Jay Shah, and the matches could be scheduled during the downtime after the Champions Trophy.
Australia and England have already invited Pakistan and India to play a series in their countries, but Pakistan has not yet decided on the host.
The plan will advance if Jay Shah responds positively. Mohsin Naqvi will also meet with senior officials from other cricket boards to discuss the Champions Trophy arrangements and security.
So far, no country other than India has expressed any reservations about touring Pakistan.
Reports regarding Afghanistan are incorrect, and PCB hopes all teams will come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, PCB has acquired a plot adjacent to the National Cricket Academy for a high-rise building project.
Discussions are ongoing with several major hotel chains for a five-star hotel project, and PCB is also considering building a hotel itself.
This project will be completed in the next few years, eliminating the need to house teams in distant hotels and ending the practice of blocking roads for security during matches. Only the area around the Gaddafi Stadium will be closed during matches.