Lahore: Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been invited to attend the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting and the final of the Indian Premier League 2026 in Ahmedabad later this month, sources told Geo News on Saturday.
According to reports, the ICC is scheduled to hold a series of key meetings, including the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) session and the ICC Board meeting, where discussions regarding the future structure and format of the World Test Championship (WTC) are expected to resume.
An international cricket news website reported that the CEC meeting will take place virtually on May 21, while the in-person ICC Board meeting is scheduled for May 30 and 31 in Ahmedabad.
The meetings will coincide with the IPL 2026 final, which is set to be played on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Sources said Mohsin Naqvi has formally received invitations for both the ICC Board meeting and the IPL final.
However, his possible participation remains uncertain due to ongoing political tensions between Pakistan and India, as well as strained relations between the two countries’ cricket boards.
According to sources, the PCB chairman has forwarded the invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will decide whether Naqvi should travel to India to attend the high-profile cricket events.
Under normal circumstances, the PCB chairman would be expected to participate in the ICC Board meeting in person as part of Pakistan’s representation within international cricket governance.
The upcoming ICC meetings are considered significant because officials are expected to discuss future plans for the World Test Championship, including scheduling, format adjustments, and long-term structure.
The quarterly ICC meetings were originally planned to take place in March and April in Doha but were postponed because of regional instability and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The invitation also carries diplomatic significance amid the continued suspension of bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India due to political tensions.
Relations between the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have remained sensitive in recent years over scheduling disputes, tournament hosting rights, and broader geopolitical issues between the neighbouring countries.
If Mohsin Naqvi attends the meeting and IPL final in Ahmedabad, it would mark a rare high-level cricket administrative engagement between Pakistan and India amid strained bilateral relations.
