PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi reacts to Rohit Sharma's comments on IND vs PAK bilateral cricket, demands this from BCCI

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that the board will consider playing a bilateral series against India only if they go to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The two countries haven't played against each other in a bilateral series since 2012-13 when the Green Army had visited India for a white-ball series. At the moment, the Asian giants face each other only when there is an ICC or ACC event in place. 

The relationship between the neighboring countries have been impacted since 2008 when the city of Mumbai was hit with a terror attack that was masterminded by terrorists in Pakistan.

Since then, the countries have rarely engaged in cricketing affairs other than playing against each other during major tournaments. Players from the nation have also been banned from taking part in the Indian Premier League with the 2008 edition being the only one where players from the country played in the cash-laden league. 

What did Mohsin Naqvi say about India Vs Pakistan bilateral series prospects? 

While speaking to media reporters in Lahore recently, Mohsin Naqvi was told about Rohit Sharma's recent comments about an India Vs Pakistan clash on overseas conditions.

Rohit made this claim during his appearance in the Club Prairie Fire podcast wherein he claimed that the idea of an Indo-Pak match outside of ICC tournaments on neutral conditions is exciting. 

"We anyway play them in ICC trophies, so it doesn’t really matter. It’s just pure cricket that I’m looking at. I’m not interested in anything else. It’s pure cricket, the game between bat and ball. It’ll be a great contest." - Rohit said via Club Prairie fire podcast. 

After coming across Rohit Sharma's comments, Mohsin Naqvi claimed that the board won't rule out this idea at all but at the moment, their priority is something else.

Naqvi first wants to wait and see if the BCCI sends the Indian team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and then think about the Men in Green's bilateral series against the Men in Blue. 

"Look, if any options in this regard come we will consider it, but our target right now is to host the Champions Trophy and first let India come for the tournament." - Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore.

Naqvi adds that Pakistan's current schedule is jampacked 

Moshin Naqvi further claimed that Pakistan, at the moment, cannot take part in a bilateral series against India because the team's scheduling is packed until the Champions Trophy. Naqvi again stressed the fact that they will wait for India to come here and if they do, then the PCB will consider the idea of a bilateral series. 

"Right now till the CT, there is no slot available as our team has a packed itinerary. Once they come here first then we can look at any proposal whenever it comes before us." - Naqvi concluded. 

But fans around the world will get the chance to witness India Vs Pakistan on June 9th in New York city during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.