Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today for an important briefing regarding whether Pakistan will play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
According to informed sources, Mohsin Naqvi recently met ICC Vice Chairman Imran Khwaja and Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam on Sunday. He will brief the Prime Minister on the outcomes and developments of that meeting. The final decision on playing India will be left to the Prime Minister.
Sources said Mohsin Naqvi has clearly informed the ICC that the authority to decide whether Pakistan plays India lies entirely with the Pakistani government, and the PCB will fully comply with the government’s decision.
During the meeting, Naqvi reportedly presented several key demands to the ICC, including compensation for Bangladesh Cricket Board’s exclusion from the World T20 Cup, an increased share for Pakistan in the next ICC financial cycle, and the inclusion of Pakistan-India matches in the World Test Championship. Sources claim these demands have been accepted.
Naqvi also told Imran Khwaja that the PCB would no longer tolerate India’s dominance in global cricket. He questioned whether the ICC would have remained silent if Pakistan had refused to accept a trophy from an Indian official after last year’s Asia Cup final.
He also raised multiple issues where India was given preference in the past. Naqvi will brief the Prime Minister fully, after which the government will decide whether Pakistan will play India on February 15 and beyond.
Sources further said Naqvi made it clear to the ICC that Pakistan will not play India without government approval, regardless of the impact on global cricket.
He will also inform the Prime Minister that the Sri Lanka and Emirates Cricket Boards have requested Pakistan to end its boycott. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam thanked Pakistan and PCB for their support but said Pakistan should play India for the future and survival of global cricket.

