Mohsin Naqvi Archives

Mohsin Naqvi backs Pakistan hockey players amid crisis

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated on Thursday that he will continue supporting the national men’s hockey team players throughout the current turmoil.

Naqvi’s remarks came following his meeting with Pakistan hockey players amid the accommodation row they faced during the Pro League leg in Australia.

“We will accommodate hockey players in every possible way. We will extend complete cooperation to streamline hockey affairs,” Naqvi stated.

“You should focus only on the game. Pakistan’s honour comes first. We will not allow the country’s dignity to be compromised under any circumstances,” Naqvi told Hockey players.

He also clarified that he is not becoming the next president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

“I am not becoming Hockey Federation President, but we will assist players till this turmoil ends,” Naqvi wrote on X.

The PCB chairman clarified after Tariq Bugti sent his resignation to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

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Earlier in the day, Tariq Bugti stepped down as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), with captain Ammad Shakeel Butt handed a two-year ban by the federation.

Bugti submitted his resignation to Shehbaz Sharif and defended his performance in a farewell statement, highlighting improvements in Pakistan’s global standing.

The resignation comes amid fallout from viral videos during the FIH Pro League leg in Australia, which showed Pakistan players living in substandard accommodation due to logistical and financial complications.

Initial hotel bookings were reportedly cancelled over non-payment, forcing team management to arrange alternative lodging with the help of the local community, often with four to five players sharing a single room and bookings falling short of covering the full stay.

On the field, Pakistan endured a disappointing campaign, remaining winless in Australia with defeats against Australia (3-2, 3-0) and Germany (5-2, 6-1).

Looking ahead, Pakistan are scheduled to continue their FIH Pro League campaign with matches against Belgium on June 13 and 20, Spain on June 14, followed by high-profile clashes with arch-rivals India on June 23 and 26, and England on June 24 and 27.

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ICC delegation to meet Mohsin Naqvi to break India-Pakistan deadlock: sources

LAHORE: A high-level International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, here today to resolve the ongoing deadlock over the India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, sources revealed.

The much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions following Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India due to security concerns, a decision that led to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stand to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to their net run rate if they forfeit the contest.

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According to sources, the ICC delegation, led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, is expected to arrive in Lahore around 4pm.

The delegation will hold discussions with PCB leadership and senior officials to explore a possible way forward.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam is also likely to join the meeting, reflecting the broader regional dimensions of the issue.

Sources further indicated that the ICC has tasked Khwaja with convincing PCB leadership to reconsider Pakistan’s stance, with the governing body keen to find a compromise that ensures the blockbuster encounter proceeds as scheduled.

The outcome of the talks could prove pivotal for the tournament and the future handling of politically sensitive fixtures in international cricket.

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Major update regarding Pakistan’s participation in T20 World Cup

A decision on Pakistan participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be held in India and Sri Lanka, is expected within days, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday.

Naqvi took to his X handle, revealing the details regarding the decision following a ‘producitve meeting’ with the PM Shehbaz Sharif.

“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday,” he wrote.

The development comes in the wake of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the former refused to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns.

The ICC’s stance has triggered unease within the PCB, which has publicly backed Bangladesh during the dispute.

Speculation about Pakistan’s participation intensified after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday that the final call will be made by the federal government.

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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Pakistan originally set to open their campaign against the Netherlands.

Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, the USA and Namibia, with all of their group matches to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.

Pakistan are due to face the USA on 10 February, followed by the much-anticipated clash against India on 15 February, before concluding the group stage against Namibia on 18 February.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals and final, both matches are slated to be played in Colombo. Otherwise, the knockout fixtures will take place in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

READ: Pakistan considering boycott of T20 World Cup clash against India: sources

Naqvi to meet Pakistan T20 WC squad amid doubts over participation

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is set to hold a meeting with the national cricket team, recently picked for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is slated to start next month.

According to the sources, the chairman will brief the players about participation in the World Cup and share the strategy with them.

The decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup will be made after consultation with the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A day earlier, Mohsin Naqvi said that the final call on the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be taken by the federal government.

Naqvi’s remarks came after International Cricket Council (ICC) had replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming World Cup following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for the event.

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The ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been engaged in prolonged discussions over the issue, resulting in the latter’s pull out from the mega event.

Against that backdrop, sources had suggested that Pakistan could also consider boycotting the tournament after Bangladesh’s decision.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the PCB would not act independently on the matter and would align itself with the government’s position.

“The prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif] is currently not in the country. Once he returns, we will announce a final decision,” Naqvi said when asked about Pakistan’s stance following the ICC’s decision on Bangladesh.

The PCB chairman openly criticised the ICC’s handling of the situation, accusing the governing body of applying double standards and treating Bangladesh unfairly.

“Bangladesh has been treated unjustly. I raised the same point during the ICC board meeting,” Naqvi said.

“You cannot have a situation where one country is allowed to make decisions whenever it wants, while another is denied the same consideration.”

Earlier today, Pakistan revealed their 15 member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The mega event will be played from 7 February to 8 March across Sri Lanka and India.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.

Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 participation

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said that a final call on the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be taken by the federal government.

Naqvi’s remarks came after reports emerged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming World Cup following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for the event.

The ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been engaged in prolonged discussions over the issue, but failed to reach a compromise.

Earlier this week, the ICC formally rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches from India to Sri Lanka, insisting the existing schedule would remain unchanged and issuing what was effectively a final ultimatum.

Against that backdrop, sources had suggested that Pakistan could also consider boycotting the tournament should Bangladesh withdraw or be forced out.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the PCB would not act independently on the matter and would align itself with the government’s position.

The PCB chairman openly criticised the ICC’s handling of the situation, accusing the governing body of applying double standards and treating Bangladesh unfairly.

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“Bangladesh has been treated unjustly. I raised the same point during the ICC board meeting,” Naqvi said.

“You cannot have a situation where one country is allowed to make decisions whenever it wants, while another is denied the same consideration.”

He stressed that Bangladesh should, in his view, be allowed to participate in the World Cup under any circumstances.

“They are a major stakeholder in international cricket. This kind of injustice should not happen,” he added.

Naqvi also alluded to what he described as the BCCI’s influence over ICC decision-making, warning that Pakistan would not accept any form of diktat.

“Bangladesh is the same ICC member as Pakistan,” he said. “If concessions have been made in the past for certain countries, then the same approach should be applied to Bangladesh.”

“One country cannot dictate terms to another. And if any such attempt is made, Pakistan will take its own clear stance,” Naqvi concluded.

READ: Bangladesh replaced by Scotland at T20 World Cup 2026: report

PCB chief Naqvi aims to run Multan Sultans profitably amid speculation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed confidence in Multan Sultans’ financial prospects, stating that he wants to run the outfit for at least a year to prove it is a profitable venture.

Earlier today, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11 in a historic auction, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

However, Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen decided to sit out the auction for two new PSL franchises.

Tareen, whose group was notably absent from the list of 10 qualified bidders, took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the move, emphasizing the emotional connection his family shared with the Multan Sultans franchise.

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“After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction,” Tareen wrote.

“Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long. That’s what drove everything we built.”

Speaking at a press conference alongside the new team owners after the auction, Mohsin reflected on the challenge of managing Multan Sultans.

He hinted at skepticism about the team’s finances, noting that management aimed to demonstrate the league’s commercial potential ahead of the auction.

“I took a challenge, and that is that there were a lot of claims on social media that the team was in losses. So I, and all of the team, decided that we will show you how much profit this business offers, publish the numbers before going for the auction,” Naqvi stated.

Naqvi added that while there is external pressure and speculation about the future of the team, his focus remains on running the Sultans for at least a year and proving that it can be a profitable venture.

“The pressure has started to be built up on me to sell out the team,” he said in a light-hearted manner while referring to Naseer.

“But my wish is to operate Multan Sultans for one year, and I’m very much hopeful that we would leave it in profit so the world gets to know that it’s a plus-plus business.”

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PCB chief announces prize money for Pakistan U19 team: sources

DUBAI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced hefty cash prizes for the national U19 team after they lifted the ACC Men’s Asia Cup title here on Sunday.

According to sources, Naqvi has decided to award each winning team member a cash prize of PKR 5 million in a meeting held with the players.

Moreover, the chairman has also vowed to give emerging national cricketers the best possible treatment after a dominant performance against India in the final.

In a conversation with Sameer Minhas, the PCB Chairman also made an individual announcement for him.” Sources.

“You are all warriors. You have raised Pakistan’s name with pride,” he said to the players. “Sameer Minhas, you are our pride. You delivered an outstanding performance,” sources quoted Naqvi’s statement.

Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi expressed his thoughts after the final in a post on ‘X’, praising the team for delivering an outstanding performance.

“What a show! Proud to be handing over the ACC U19 Cup to our brilliant Pakistan U19 team. Fearless cricket, unmatched spirit, and a performance to remember,” he wrote.

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Mohsin Naqvi lavished praise on Sameer Minhas for playing a decisive knock under pressure against India.

“Special mention for Sameer—calm under pressure and outstanding on the big stage. This team makes the nation proud and the future of Pakistan cricket shine bright,” he added.

For the unversed, Pakistan outplayed India in the final by 191 runs, with Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza delivering commanding performances.

Set a daunting 348, the Indian batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for only 156 in 26.3 overs.

For Pakistan, Ali Raza took a four-wicket haul while Huzaifa Ahsan, Abdul Subhan, and Mohammad Sayyam contributed with two wickets each.

READ: Babar Azam, cricketing fraternity laud Pakistan U19 triumph

Naqvi praises ‘fearless’ Pakistan U19 team after Asia Cup victory

DUBAI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi commended the national U19 side after their resounding victory against arch-rivals India in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup final.

Naqvi expressed his thoughts after the final in a post on ‘X’, praising the team for delivering an outstanding performance.

“What a show! Proud to be handing over the ACC U19 Cup to our brilliant Pakistan U19 team. Fearless cricket, unmatched spirit, and a performance to remember,” he wrote.

Mohsin Naqvi lavished praise on Sameer Minhas for playing a decisive knock under pressure against India.

“Special mention for Sameer—calm under pressure and outstanding on the big stage. This team makes the nation proud and the future of Pakistan cricket shine bright,” he added.

Earlier, Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza’s splendid bowling display helped Pakistan thrash India in the final here at the ICC Academy.

Set a daunting 348, the Indian batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for only 156 in 26.3 overs.

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For Pakistan, Ali Raza took a four-wicket haul while Huzaifa Ahsan, Abdul Subhan, and Mohammad Sayyam contributed with two wickets each.

Pakistan capitalized on the decision to bat first against India and racked up 347/8 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to Minhas 172 off just 113, peppered with 17 fours and nine sixes.

Minhas 172 was also the highest Youth ODI score for Pakistan, earning him the player of the match award.

Highest Individual Score for Pakistan in Youth ODIs

Sameer Minhas – 172 vs India U19, 2025

Shahzaib Khan – 159 vs India U19, 2024

Shamyl Hussain – 150 vs Sri Lanka U19, 2023

Abdul Razzaq – 142 vs Australia U19, 1997

Overall, he amassed 471 runs in the tournament — also the highest in a single edition of U19 Asia Cup.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed reflects on Pakistan U19 Asia Cup triumph

PCB Chief Naqvi announces PSL 11 kickoff date

NEW YORK: Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 will be held from March 26 to May 3, 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday.

The announcement was made during the league’s second global roadshow in New York, which was attended by several current and former cricketers — Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Akram, and Ramiz Raja.

“A lot of investors here asked us about the timeline of the PSL. So, I can tell you one thing that the PSL 11, by the will of Almighty Allah, will start on March 26, and we are planning to hold the final on May 3,” Naqvi revealed.

Mohsin Naqvi also announced the revised schedule for the auction of the two new PSL teams, noting that it will now take place on January 8.

A few days earlier, Mohsin Naqvi wrote about the extension on his ‘X’ handle in which he also mentioned the upcoming second roadshow aimed at attracting investors worldwide.

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“Witnessing growing interest from the Europe, USA, the Middle East and beyond in acquiring new HBL PSL teams, we have decided to extend the bid submission deadline by one week to 22 December 2025,” Mohsin Naqvi wrote.

For those unaware, the roadshows are part of the PCB’s global outreach strategy aimed at engaging with international investors ahead of the auction of two HBL PSL franchises.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans.

With the addition of two new teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

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PCB pushes back bid deadline for new PSL teams

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the extension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams bidding deadline amid growing interest from around the globe.

Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, wrote about the extension on his ‘X’ handle in which he also mentioned the upcoming second roadshow aimed at attracting investors worldwide.

“Good luck to everyone, excited to welcome our new franchise owners to the HBL PSL family.”

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This comes after the PSL’s first roadshow, held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The event was attended by Pakistan star players Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and former cricketers.

After the first roadshow, the PCB is set to host another global roadshow in New York tomorrow, which will engage international investors ahead of the auction of the two new outfits.

“The New York Roadshow is part of the PCB’s global outreach strategy aimed at engaging with international investors ahead of the auction of two HBL PSL franchises, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 6 January 2026,” the board had said in a press release.

“The initiative is designed to highlight the league’s commercial strength, global following, and long-term growth potential,” the statement added.

It is pertinent to mention that PSL, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans.

With the addition of two new teams, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

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