LAHORE: A delicate diplomatic and sporting decision looms for Pakistan after the country’s cricket chief, Mohsin Naqvi, received a formal invitation to attend high-profile events in India later this month. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman has been asked to participate in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, both scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad.
According to sources, the final call on whether Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, will cross the border rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The invitation has been forwarded to the premier’s office for a decision that will navigate the historically tense political relationship between the two neighboring nations.
The Schedule and Stakes
The ICC has organized a series of crucial quarterly meetings to resume discussions on the future of the World Test Championship (WTC). The Chief Executives Committee (CEC) meeting is slated to be held virtually on May 21. However, the in-person Board meeting is scheduled for May 30 and 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host the IPL 2026 final on May 31.
While a board director would ordinarily be expected to attend such a significant meeting in person, the strained bilateral ties between the two governments and their respective cricket boards have cast a shadow of uncertainty over Naqvi’s participation. These meetings were originally planned for March-April in Doha, Qatar, but were postponed due to regional conflicts, making the Ahmedabad gathering the rescheduled in-person forum.
A Decision for the Prime Minister
Sources confirmed that Naqvi has received a dual invitation: one for the governance discussions at the ICC Board meeting and another for the spectacle of the cash-rich league’s final. Given the political sensitivities and Naqvi’s high-ranking government position, the PCB chief has deferred the decision to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The potential visit carries significant weight, as it would represent a rare high-level Pakistani presence in India for a sporting event, occurring against a backdrop of minimal bilateral cricketing contact outside of multi-nation tournaments.
