Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has done his bit to make the upcoming India vs Pakistan match as electric as possible. At a time when the Indian public isn’t entirely sold on the idea of India playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup, the PCB chief has claimed that Pakistan will not be begging for negotiations going forward.
The Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seem to be extending a hand, but Naqvi has decided to push it away. The two cricket boards had decided earlier this year to play against each other at neutral venues. That’s why, despite being the hosts of the Asia Cup, India will play Pakistan in Dubai.
PCB Chief fuels the fire for the India vs Pakistan match
Naqvi’s comment comes in light of India’s Sports Ministry’s statement. Amid pushback regarding participation in the India vs Pakistan cricket match, the government had repeated what they had said before. India won’t play bilateral sports with Pakistan, something that has happened since 2013 in cricket, but will continue to feature in multi-nation events.
Naqvi, who’s the PCB Chairman and Interior Minister of Pakistan, was posed the question. His reply was straightforward. Despite BCCI being a powerhouse, the PCB won’t bow down to them.
“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 on the basis of equality,” Naqvi said in a press conference in Lahore, as per Dawn.
Has PCB one-upped BCCI?
Naqvi isn’t wrong either. When India refused to play in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, he cut a deal with the ICC and BCCI. Playing at the neutral venue was part of the agreement, along with PCB getting the hosting rights of an ICC Women’s tournament in the future.
In fact, if anything, the BCCI has looked weaker. Yes, Pakistan didn’t play India at home, but considering that the BCCI generates most of the revenue for the ICC, it was the PCB that came out on top. Also, it seems like the BCCI is more desperate to play an India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, as no noise over Pakistan’s participation has been made in their nation.
