'Country's honour comes first': Mohsin Naqvi on holding Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has said that the country's honour comes first, and come what may, Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan.

"Pakistan's honour comes first, the rest will come later. The Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan... our contact is only with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and we are waiting for their response. If India has reservations, they should talk to us. We will address them," the PCB chairman said in conversation with media personnel in Lahore.

He hoped for the best, saying that sports and politics were two separate things. "We stand by our decision and will remain so. The ICC will soon announce the schedule for the Champions Trophy," Naqvi added.

When talking about renovation work at Gaddafi Stadium, he said it was progresssing rapidly. "The development work at Gaddafi Stadium will be completed on time. All enclosures will remain in place, no enclosure is being demolished."

To a question about reports of changes within the management of the cricketing board, the PCB chief said, "Wahab Riaz is working continuously, no one was removed... and Mohammad Yousuf is also not being allowed to go anywhere. I am bringing cricketers together. How can I let them go? Abdul Razzaq is also very important to me."

To another question, Naqvi clarified that the Champions Trophy tour had not been cancelled. "It has only been rescheduled."