Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not been invited for the IPL final in Ahmedabad and he will virtually attend the ICC Annual Board Meeting, scheduled to be held on May 31 on the sidelines of the tournament’s title clash.
However, it is learnt that Naqvi will attend the ICC Board of Directors meeting through video conference, a provision that has always existed for member representatives who are unable to travel. The ICC meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Doha last month but had to be postponed because of the prevailing crisis in West Asia. Sources aware of the developments said Naqvi was never expected to attend the meeting in person and his participation through virtual mode was in line with standard ICC practice.
In fact, Naqvi is one of the three members who will attend the meeting virtually. The conference assumes significance as it will be held alongside the IPL final in Ahmedabad with top administrators from across cricket boards expected to be present.
India and Pakistan cricketing tensions over the years
While the tensions on a political level between India and Pakistan has only risen in the last 18 months, ripples on the cricketing side of things are equally palpable. With Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy in 2025, India opted not to travel to the neighbouring nation amid security concerns and played all their matches in Dubai. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, Team India players didn’t shake their hands with their Pakistani counterparts during their Asia Cup matches later this year, souring relations extensively between the two sides. Additionally, Naqvi was at the centre of another controversy in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, walking away with the trophy after the Indian team reportedly clarified about not wanting to receive it from the PCB Chief. As per reports, Naqvi is yet to give the trophy and demanded that Suryakumar Yadav should personally come to collect the trophy in Dubai.
Has Mohsin Naqvi visited India before?
There is no known record of Naqvi visiting India before. Nevertheless, fans would have reacted with plenty of backlash had he visited the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to watch the final.
His visit to India was also subjected to approval from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
(With inputs from PTI)
