PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi asks ICC to ready backup plan; uncertainty looms over Afghanistan's Tri-Series participation

Pakistan Cricket Board is crafting backup plans for a T20 Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka, as Afghanistan's participation remains uncertain due to bilateral tensions. The series, slated for November, faces potential scheduling conflicts with a proposed series against Sri Lanka in January, impacting Pakistani players' availability for the Big Bash League and potentially causing friction with Cricket Australia.

Pakistan's Interior Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi (AP Photo)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is developing contingency plans due to uncertainty over Afghanistan's participation in an upcoming T20 Tri-Series amid military tensions between the two nations. The series, including Sri Lanka, is planned for November 17-29. "The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has asked the International Cricket Council to start working on an alternate plan as he wants the Tri-Series to go ahead," a source said. Sri Lanka has received an invitation from PCB to play three T20 internationals between November 11 and 15, before the Tri-Series with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Pakistan and Sri Lankan cricket boards are discussing a potential three-match T20 series in Colombo between January 1-10. This potential series could create complications with Cricket Australia, which has signed Pakistani players for the Big Bash tournament after receiving assurances about their availability. Several Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Khan, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali, have signed with Big Bash teams. For Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen, this would mark their first Big Bash appearances. "Obviously if the series with Sri Lanka is finalised, then either the selectors play without these players or the duration of their NOCs will have to be reconsidered by the PCB, meaning a disagreement with Cricket Australia," the source said. Cricket Australia has contacted PCB following their recent suspension of player NOCs for various leagues. Another source said that CA officials had conveyed to the PCB that their teams had already spent millions on promo campaigns around the Pakistani players in the Big Bash. The Desert Vipers team in the Emirates International League has also signed three Pakistani players for the upcoming season. Pakistan's next major white-ball series before the ICC World T20 Cup will be against Australia in January, featuring three ODIs and three T20 internationals on home soil.

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