Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has dismissed speculation that he is set to replace Jay Shah as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), calling the reports unfounded.
Rumors circulating on social media earlier this week claimed that Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), was preparing to take on a third major leadership role in international cricket by heading the ICC.
However, speaking to reporters at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi following a Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans, Naqvi firmly rejected the claims.
“No, there are a lot of things already,” Naqvi said when asked about the possibility of becoming the next ICC chairman.
During the same media interaction, Naqvi said he would once again approach Shehbaz Sharif to request permission for fans to attend ongoing PSL 11 matches. He emphasized that the PCB would make every effort to bring spectators back to stadiums.
“I will speak again to the prime minister regarding the crowd,” Naqvi said, adding that the board is keen to restore fan presence.
However, he stressed that any decision must take into account ongoing global challenges linked to the Middle East conflict.
The PCB recently announced that PSL matches would be held without spectators as part of the government’s austerity measures amid the regional situation. The board also reduced the number of venues to Karachi and Lahore to limit public movement and manage logistical concerns.
These decisions were made in response to broader government efforts to address the global fuel crisis and reduce expenditures.
Following the announcement, several PSL franchise owners urged authorities to allow fans back into stadiums, arguing that spectator presence is essential to the league’s atmosphere and identity. They appealed to both the prime minister and provincial leadership to reconsider the restrictions.
While Naqvi reiterated his intention to push for the return of crowds, he confirmed that there would be no changes to the PSL 11 schedule.
Stay tuned to ProSports for the upcoming PSL 11 fixtures as well as breaking news, power rankings, stats, points table, and schedule.
