The Pakistan Cri1cket Board (PCB) shared key updates during a Governing Board meeting held yesterday in Islamabad, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi. Attendees were briefed on the progress surrounding the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, with significant developments highlighted.
According to sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed that agreements with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been finalized, with only documentation pending. The Champions Trophy schedule is expected to be announced within the next 1-2 days.
The chairman disclosed that India had proposed compensating Pakistan financially if their team did not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. However, the PCB rejected this offer, emphasizing national pride over monetary gains. Instead, Pakistan presented an alternative model, ensuring that for the next three years, teams from both nations would not visit each other's countries for ICC events.
As part of this arrangement, the PCB has been awarded hosting rights for a women's tournament in 2028. When concerns were raised about the lack of major tournaments in Pakistan over the next three years, ICC assured the PCB of hosting opportunities for future events in the country. This commitment is expected to offset potential losses caused by India's absence from the Champions Trophy.
The board was also informed that ICC might limit its announcement to the Champions Trophy schedule for now, without confirming the broader three-year agreement. However, an official declaration regarding the extended arrangement remains a possibility.
It was further disclosed during the meeting that Pakistan conveyed a firm stance to the ICC, warning of drastic measures if its demands were not met. Details of these potential actions were not elaborated upon.
The developments reflect PCB's proactive efforts to safeguard Pakistan's interests in international cricket while ensuring the smooth organization of the Champions Trophy.
Pak Test squad hold practice in SA without coaches
Pakistan's cricketers have arrived in South Africa for the upcoming Test series, but sources reveal that, following Jason Gillespie's resignation, the players are currently training in Johannesburg without a coach.
Head Coach Aqib Javed and other coaching staff are presently working with the ODI team. Gillespie had recommended that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set up a training camp in Johannesburg for the Test series, but he resigned before his suggestion could be implemented.
Interestingly, former Head Coach Jason Gillespie had terminated his contract with Australian radio to become the head coach of Australia's white-ball cricket team. Despite his contract with the PCB, Gillespie worked with Pakistan's team for three ODIs and three T20Is, and at his request, high-performance coach Tim Nielsen was also brought on board.
The PCB made separate payments to Gillespie and Nielsen under their new agreements. This compensation also covered the loss resulting from the termination of Gillespie's contract.
Sources close to the matter claim that Gillespie chose to prioritize the Pakistani team but, after the white-ball series, the PCB did not renew Nielsen's contract, which led to Gillespie's resignation in protest.
The Pakistan Test squad, led by Shan Masood, departed for Johannesburg on Friday. On the same day, Gillespie refused to travel to South Africa. Now, the Test team is preparing for the first Test by practicing with a few local players, without the guidance of a coach.
Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Khurram Shehzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Aamir Jamal, Hasibullah, and Nauman Ali are practicing separately from the ODI team in South Africa. The PCB has appointed Aqib Javed as the interim head coach for the Test team.
Maharaj out of Pak ODIs, doubtful for Tests
First choice spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan and is a doubt for the crucial two-test home series against the sub-continent side that starts on Dec. 26.
Maharaj has a left adductor strain and will miss the 50-over fixtures in Cape Town on Thursday and Johannesburg on Sunday, but of much greater concern will be the 34-year-old's availability for the test series. South Africa are top of the World Test Championship table and need victory in one of their two remaining matches against Pakistan to guarantee a place at the Lord's final in June next year. Should Maharaj be unavailable, the only specialist spinner in the test squad is the less experienced Senuran Muthusamy. Bjorn Fortuin has been named as his replacement for the final two ODIs.
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