The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sign the Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights agreements with it, stressing that they should be compensated if India refuse to travel to the country citing political and security reasons.

According to sources, while the ICC has marked Pakistan as the host of the tournament, the global body is yet to sign the important hosting agreement with it. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and COO Salman Naseer had reportedly met the ICC executive Board in Ahmedabad to discuss the hosting of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February-March 2025.

“Pakistani officials discussed the probability of the Indian Board (BCCI) again refusing to send its team to Pakistan and made it clear that in any given situation the ICC must avoid taking unilateral decisions on the tournament,” the source said.

He said the PCB officials had told ICC that if India refuse to play in Pakistan on security grounds, the global body should appoint an independent security agency, which could liaise with the Pakistan government and security officials.

While many international teams have toured Pakistan in recent years, India haven't, their most recent refusal was during the Asia Cup in August-September.

Riaz versus players over NOCs

Several Pakistani cricketers are reportedly unhappy with PCB chief selector Wahab Riaz for delaying the issuance of NOCs to players to compete in foreign leagues, such as the Big Bash League in Australia, leading to tension between the two sides.

Sources close to the players said that all-rounder Imad Wasim had decided to end his international career because of the tension prevailing between the chief selector and the cricketers over the issuance of NOCs.

Wahab Riaz. File photo

Wasim had announced his retirement on Friday. Wasim had contracts lined up for lucrative T10 and T20 leagues in the UAE, Australia and South Africa.

"(Chief selector) Wahab has made it clear to all centrally-contracted players that their first priority is to play for Pakistan and also insisted that anyone wanting to be considered for selection to the national team has to make appearances in domestic cricket," a source said.