Naqvi to break ice with ICC officials in Colombo after boycott storm, attend India vs Pakistan; BCB president stays away
Senior PCB officials, including Pakistan Super League CEO Salman Naseer and Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed, are also in Colombo alongside Mohsin Naqvi.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi landed in Colombo on Sunday ahead of the marquee T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium. However, beyond attending the high-voltage Group A fixture, Naqvi’s primary agenda is to meet ICC chairman Jay Shah and other governing council members, according to a PTI report.
India will play against Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo
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A source revealed that senior PCB officials, including Pakistan Super League CEO Salman Naseer and Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed, are also in Colombo alongside Naqvi.
“The Sri Lankan board has invited officials from other boards as well, but the reason for Naqvi going is to have discussions with ICC Chairman Jay Shah and other officials on the sidelines to break the ice after the boycott fiasco,” the source said.
Relations between the ICC and PCB were strained earlier this month after the Pakistan board, in solidarity with Bangladesh, threatened to boycott the India game. The move came after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to travel to India for its World Cup fixtures citing security concerns.
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Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup.
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Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup.
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After weeks of diplomatic and cricket board engagement involving the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, SLC, and the PCB, the Pakistan government reversed its decision and confirmed it would take the field against India.
The report further stated that top BCCI officials will also be present in Colombo, raising the possibility of key discussions on the sidelines of the match.
“Naqvi will be in a position to have productive talks in Colombo having gotten clearance from the Premier,” the source added.
BCB president stays away
Meanwhile, according to a Cricbuzz report, BCB president Aminul Islam, who had initially planned to travel to Colombo after receiving an ICC invitation, changed his mind at the last minute.
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It was confirmed after a meeting between BCB officials and Aminul, who recently returned to Dhaka from Kuwait following an Asian Cricket Council meeting.
“I spoke with Aminul Islam. Since Bangladesh isn’t in it, he said, ‘Why should I go there just to watch the match?’ So he refused,” BCB umpires committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman told Cricbuzz.
“Maybe at first he said he would go but later realized if Bangladesh isn’t playing, what’s the point of going unnecessarily,” he added.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Naqvi to break ice with ICC officials in Colombo after boycott storm, attend India vs Pakistan; BCB president stays away
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