Pakistan may invite India for T20I series at neutral venue

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to revive bilateral cricket ties with India by proposing a T20I series at a neutral venue in 2025. This proposal comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the Champions Trophy, with India expressing security concerns about traveling to Pakistan.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who has traveled to Sri Lanka for a day, is expected to discuss the proposed T20I series with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah at the upcoming ICC annual conference in Colombo.

The series could potentially be scheduled during a free window for both teams after the Champions Trophy. India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, is under question due to security and political concerns. The BCCI has hinted that the Indian team might not be allowed to travel to Pakistan.

PCB, however, insists on hosting all Champions Trophy matches in Lahore and has taken steps to ensure the Indian team’s security. This includes acquiring land for a new 5-star hotel near the stadium to eliminate the need for extensive travel and security measures. PCB’s efforts to convince BCCI to send the Indian team to Pakistan ultimately depend on the Indian government’s approval. Pakistan and India haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012, with cricket encounters limited to ICC and ACC tournaments due to political tensions.