The International Cricket Council has shifted its upcoming quarterly board meetings from Doha to Ahmedabad, placing them squarely on the IPL 2026 final weekend and reviving a pointed question: will Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi travel to India?
The ICC is scheduled to hold a virtual Chief Executives’ Committee meeting on May 21, followed by in-person Board meetings on May 30 and 31 at Ahmedabad. The venue change from Qatar was made due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
The Naqvi Question
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Asian Cricket Council president, has reportedly received invitations for both the ICC Board meetings and the IPL 2026 final at Narendra Modi Stadium. Pakistani media reports indicate the matter has been referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will take the final call on whether Naqvi makes the trip.
The question carries weight beyond scheduling. Relations between the PCB and the BCCI have been strained for months, and Naqvi’s potential presence in India has drawn considerable attention in both cricket and political circles.
The Dubai Trophy Incident
Tensions between the two boards reportedly came to a head at the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, when members of the Indian team allegedly declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi following remarks he had made in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The trophy was subsequently left in Dubai on PCB instructions, in what was described as an uncomfortable moment at the presentation ceremony.
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Since then, Naqvi has drawn further attention by repeatedly comparing the Pakistan Super League with the IPL in public statements, adding another layer of friction to an already strained relationship.
What the Ahmedabad Meetings Will Cover
The ICC Board meetings are expected to take up several significant issues in global cricket, including governance reforms, future tour scheduling and revenue distribution models.
