The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved major infrastructure upgrades across the country, including an Oval-style redevelopment of Lahore’s City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground, as part of its broader plan to expand the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and take top-level cricket to new regions.

The decisions were taken during a video-link meeting of the PCB Board of Governors (BoG), chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The board formally approved the second phase of reconstruction of Karachi’s National Stadium, the upgradation of the LCCA Ground on the model of England’s iconic Oval, and plans for a brand-new, state-of-the-art cricket stadium in Islamabad.

Speaking after the meeting, Naqvi said the PCB is also actively working to stage PSL 11 matches at Muzaffarabad Stadium, with the long-term aim of hosting international fixtures at the venue as well. “We are making every possible effort to bring PSL and international cricket to Muzaffarabad,” he said, calling it a step towards making cricket more inclusive across Pakistan.

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The BoG also reviewed the success of recent PSL promotional roadshows held in London and New York, which were organised to enhance the league’s global visibility and attract overseas audiences and investors. Board members praised Naqvi and his team for their professionalism in executing the roadshows, describing them as a key milestone in positioning the PSL as an international brand.

PCB board appreciates Naqvi as PSL eyes major expansion

During the meeting, members also paid tribute to the PCB chairman for his personal efforts in ensuring the continuation of Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Pakistan, passing a unanimous resolution of appreciation.

Naqvi, while addressing the board, credited the entire PCB team for the successful hosting of international cricket and the growing stature of the PSL. He added that investment in infrastructure, grassroots cricket and modern facilities would remain a top priority.

The PSL, which began with five teams in 2016 and expanded to six in 2018, is set for further expansion in its 11th edition next year, with two new franchises to be added, marking the league’s first major restructuring in seven years.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has officially confirmed the dates for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), announcing that the tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026. The confirmation came during a high-profile PSL roadshow held in New York, marking the league’s first promotional event in the United States.

Addressing investors and cricket stakeholders, Naqvi revealed that the dates were finalised after repeated queries about the league’s window. He emphasised that rewarding players and ensuring strong investor confidence remain central to the PCB’s vision. “Pakistan has immense cricketing talent, and investors in the PSL receive meaningful returns,” Naqvi said, highlighting the league’s commercial and sporting success.

The New York roadshow featured several prominent figures from Pakistan cricket. Current national team players Shan Masood, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed were in attendance, alongside former captains Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja. PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer was also present at the event.

Wasim Akram praised the league’s impact, calling the PSL a collective success that continues to entertain fans while providing a strong platform for local talent. Ramiz Raja echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the PSL has played a key role in developing young Pakistani cricketers by allowing them to share dressing rooms with international stars.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi dismisses Pakistan skipper during Men's U-19 Asia Cup 2025

PSL 2026 set for expansion and direct clash with IPL

The PCB also confirmed that the PSL will expand from six to eight franchises starting with the 2026 season, marking the league’s first major restructuring in seven years. Due to growing interest from Europe, the United States and the Middle East, the PCB has extended the deadline for submission of bids for the two new teams to December 22, 2025.

Notably, the PSL will once again be held during the March–May window, meaning it will directly compete with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The PCB had shifted the league’s schedule last year due to the Champions Trophy and has now retained the same window because of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for February–March.

With expansion, global outreach and a fixed window in place, PSL 2026 is shaping up to be one of the league’s most ambitious editions yet.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) held a special roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on December 7. The event was led by cricket legend Wasim Akram, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and commentator Ramiz Raja. It was considered one of the biggest promotional events in PSL history. However, a lighthearted but sharp comment from Wasim Akram became the main highlight of the evening.

While talking about T20 leagues around the world and explaining how PSL works, Akram made a joke aimed at the Indian Premier League (IPL) for being too long. The IPL usually runs for almost two months and has around 74 matches, making it the longest T20 league. In comparison, PSL is much shorter.

Akram, who has previously been part of the IPL as a commentator and mentor, praised PSL for its short and exciting schedule. His comment quickly caught everyone’s attention.

Wasim Akram Praises PSL’s Short Duration

During the event, Wasim Akram said, "The best thing about PSL is that it lasts for 34 days or a bit more next year. It’s not three months long like other league. Bachay baray ho jatay hain, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti (Kids grow up by the time those leagues end—they just never seem to finish).” His humorous line was seen as a clear dig at the IPL’s long schedule.

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For comparison, IPL 2025 started on March 22 and ended on June 3, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning their first title. PSL has only six teams and usually lasts about a month. Its next season is set to begin in May 2026, keeping its format short, fast, and easy to follow.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has revealed that the board had assured the players of their safety and also instructed the team to continue playing matches as scheduled. The board had also laid out that any member of the touring parties who defied their instruction would need to go through a review. This happened following the suicide bombing in Islamabad.

Deliberations went late in the evening of November 12 regarding the future of the trip, with the players and the management of the SLC officials, and the security officials of Pakistan being involved in the discussion. With logistics being thrown off, the remaining two ODIs of the series have been pushed by a day.

See Also: Security strengthened for Sri Lanka after Islamabad blast as PCB chief confirms ‘fool-proof’ safety

“Following this development, SLC immediately engaged with the players and assured them that all such concerns are being duly addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the touring party.” SL released the statement.

Sri Lanka to face Pakistan in remaining ODIs on November 14 and 16

The chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, has met the Sri Lanka players to reassure them regarding their safety and encourage them to continue the tour. The PCB also released a statement detailing that the briefing on the security provided to the Sri Lanka team has been provided.

“If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC's directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review,” SLC added in the official statement.

Sri Lanka suffered a terrorist attack in Pakistan in 2009 in Lahore, and was among the first teams to resume their trips to Pakistan after the long exile. In the opening Rawalpindi ODI, the hosts held their nerve for a six-run victory against Sri Lanka to go 1-0 up in the series. Salman Agha celebrated a fine century after they lost four wickets under 100 runs, including former captain and veteran batter Babar Azam.

India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, continues to enjoy his success as the captain, having won the away five-match T20I series against Australia down under by a 2-1 margin, after the final game at the Gabba was washed out due to persistent rain. Later, in the press conference, Sky took a brutal dig at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, Mohsin Naqvi, who refused to offer the Blue Brigade the Asia Cup trophy.

Suryakumar congratulated the Indian women’s side for winning the Women’s World Cup 2025 after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side got the better of South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

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“It feels great to finally get to touch the trophy. Felt it in my hands when I was handed over the trophy for the series victory. A few days back, another trophy arrived in India. Our women’s team has won the World Cup. That trophy has also arrived back home. It feels great, and getting to touch this trophy as well feels good.” Sky expressed during the press conference.

Suryakumar Yadav makes brutal statement on Mohsin Naqvi for Asia Cup 2025 controversy

The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, reckoned that they were in constant talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the two cricketing bodies were able to break the ice on the dispute. He addressed that they would get the trophy in hand after the meeting had occurred between the boards and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“When you're playing in your backyard, there will be a lot of support from everyone wherever we play in India. Going to be a good challenge, exciting tournament, but it's still far away. Two important series to go. Need to see a lot of things during that. I'm sure it will be an exciting World Cup ahead.” Sky noted in the press conference.

“It was really good to start the process of negotiation. Both sides cordially participated in the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the ICC board meeting. Definitely, in the coming times, if things go positively, the issue will be sorted at the earliest.” Saikia shed light during an interaction on PTI.

In a key development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally raised the question of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meetings in Dubai. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC has offered to step in and help solve the ongoing dispute between the BCCI and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

India won the Asia Cup 2025 title by defeating Pakistan in the final on September 28 in Dubai. However, the Indian team has not yet received the trophy. Reports claim that the trophy is still in the custody of Mohsin Naqvi and remains at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. The discussions about the matter took place during the ICC meeting in a calm and respectful manner, with both sides focusing on finding a solution.

During the meeting, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clearly stated that the trophy rightfully belongs to India and should be handed over immediately. As the issue continues, the ICC is now considering forming a special panel to act as a mediator and settle the disagreement. Many ICC board members have allegedly supported the suggestion, stating this is something that needs to be resolved quickly.

Trophy Controversy Still Unresolved

Despite the ICC’s involvement, the BCCI’s position remains firm. Saikia has made it clear that the BCCI will not accept the trophy directly from Mohsin Naqvi. The controversy started during the post-match presentation ceremony when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

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Suryakumar Yadav and other members of Team India declined to step forward and accept the trophy, which was immediately removed from the stage. Now that the ICC has stepped in, cricket fans are hopeful that the matter will eventually be resolved and the Indian team will regain the Asia Cup 2025 trophy they so much deserve.

The Multan Sultans’ owner, Ali Khan Tareen, has responded to the legal notice he has been sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). They have accused Tareen of violating several rules in their 10-year contract, as the PSL team ownership will expire next December, which marks the end of the event’s first decade.

Multan Sultans, one of the successful franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have revealed that the board threatened to backlist their owners. They also asked them to apologize publicly for criticizing the management of the league. Tareen raised his voice in his criticism of the management over the past year, particularly regarding communication issues.  

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“The PCB last month sent a legal notice to Multan Sultans, demanding that our owner, Ali Tareen, retract all recent critical statements and issue a public apology to the PSL management. The notice threatens termination of our franchise agreement and a lifetime blacklist of Mr. Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future.” Multan Sultan sent a statement.

Watch: Ali Khan Tareen laughs at Mohsin Naqvi’s PCB to tear their legal notice

In a video posted by Tareen on his ‘X’ account (formerly known as Twitter), he summarized the demands of the board before blaming the board’s approach to handling the disagreements. He accused the PSL officials of being surrounded by yes-men on every occasion and not willing to accept the criticism. He stressed that the league belongs to the fans and all of Pakistan.

The PSL Management has sent me a notice threatening to cancel Multan Sultans unless I offer them a public apology. Hazir Saeen. pic.twitter.com/yHWCcClXaD

— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) October 23, 2025

While Tareen’s legal advisors suggested against the apology, he went forward mocking the league for the sake of improving the franchise event. He reiterated his criticisms from the past regarding the unprofessional conduct and the frustration of the mismanagement. He also sarcastically lauded the lip syncing of the performers.

Tareen continued in the same tone and apologized for being 10 minutes late for a Zoom meeting, pointing out the flaws of the tournament logistically. He made a dramatic ending to the video by tearing up the legal notice, with a smirk of ‘I hope you like my apology video.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to get its Asia Cup 2025 trophy after winning the final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, thanks to Tilak Varma’s fine unbeaten half-century. But the Suryakumar Yadav-led side decided not to accept the trophy from the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi. 

A new clip from Pakistan is going viral around the social media platforms, which shows Mohsin Naqvi, the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan’s interior Minister, being glorified as a ‘hero’ for his handling of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy situation.

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“Jab ye ground mein khade the aur Indian team trophy nahi le rahi thi, inhone sabr ka muzahira kiya. Khade rahe, khade rahe. Wo chahte the ye agar hat jayenge to hum kisi aur se le lenge. Lekin unko nahi pata tha ke hamara chairman wajir-e-dakhla bhi hai. Unhone team ko baad mein dehshat gardon ki tarah handle kiya, trophy gaadi mein rakh ke saath le aaye. Ab poora India trophy ke peeche bhag raha hai.” The unnamed person on the stage said.

Watch: Mohsin Naqvi’s audacity on Asia Cup 2025 trophy goes viral

In simple terms, the clip suggests that everyone in Pakistan has praised Naqvi for standing firm on his decision not to hand over the trophy if India refuses to take it from them. The Blue Brigade, meanwhile, refused to collect their trophy and medals. The Pakistani media has portrayed the moment of Naqvi stealing the trophy as a moment of bravery and national pride.

 

 

 

 

 

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Now weeks later, Pakistan’s media has glorified that same act. The winning side deserved to lift the title on the field and was robbed of the moment only because of Naqvi’s act. It was nothing more than arrogance and political posturing as he turned the cricketing win into his ego.

The Salman Ali Agha-led side was bundled out for 146 runs in 19.1 overs in Dubai in the first innings. India lost three wickets quickly in the chase before Tilak’s undefeated knock of 69 runs in 53 balls contributed to their victory by five wickets to lift the title.

The Asia Cup 2025 trophy controversy is still escalating, weeks after Team India defeated Pakistan in the tournament final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28.

This cricketing dispute shows no sign of resolution, particularly concerning the trophy presentation ceremony. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team famously refused to receive the Asia Cup silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who subsequently removed the winners' trophy from the stadium.

A significant governance standoff has erupted between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The immediate trigger is Naqvi's insistence on personally presenting the Asia Cup 2025 title to the Indian cricket team in Dubai on November 10, a date which coincides with the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting.

The BCCI is reportedly preparing to escalate the unresolved trophy fiasco to the ICC, maintaining that the presentation should follow established cricket protocol.

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“If you want the trophy, we can hold a ceremony where you can receive it. The ACC trophy rightly belongs to the Indian cricket team and is being held in trust until such time that the BCCI office holder, along with any available participating player, can collect it from the ACC president.” Naqvi’s decision has been addressed by Geo News.  

Asia Cup 2025 Trophy Handover: Mohsin Naqvi Confirms Date for BCCI & India

The controversy unfolded on the same evening of the final, where the men’s cricket team declined to collect their winners’ medals and trophy following their triumph in the final at the Dubai stadium on September 29. In the post-match presentation, the ceremony was delayed by an hour before a few players took their individual awards.

“Such a collection would, of course, be accompanied with much fanfare and coverage, as there should be no deviation from the established practices and no precedent should be set that undermines the spirit of the game we all love.” The news report addressed.

Kuldeep Yadav was later honored as the tournament’s top wicket-taker, while the opening batter of the Blue Brigade, Abhishek Sharma, earned the Player of the Tournament title for amassing 314 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.85. “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team won’t be collecting their awards tonight.” Presenter, Simon Doull, concluded the ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why did the Asia Cup 2025 final presentation ceremony face controversy?

The Indian team refused to accept the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi (who is also the PCB Chairman and a Pakistani minister) due to diplomatic tensions and his social media posts.

Who won the Asia Cup 2025 final and what was the result?

India won the final against Pakistan by 5 wickets. Pakistan was bowled out for 146, and India chased the target with 2 balls remaining (150/5).

Who was named Player of the Tournament?

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament for his consistent run-scoring (314 runs).

Who was the Player of the Match in the Final?

India's Tilak Varma was the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 69 runs.

Where is the Asia Cup 2025 winner's trophy now?

The trophy is currently with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dubai. ACC President Mohsin Naqvi has refused to send it, insisting a BCCI representative must collect it from him in person.

The controversy over the Asia Cup trophy continues to stir tension between cricket boards. Despite India’s victory, the trophy has not yet been officially handed over to the champions.

Reports suggest that Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has refused to release the trophy to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI recently submitted a formal request to receive the trophy, which was backed by both the Afghanistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards. However, Naqvi’s reluctance has prolonged the issue, leaving the matter unresolved. The situation has sparked discussions about administrative conflicts and politics within the ACC.

See Also: India and Pakistan set to clash on the Cricket field again

BCCI to Take Further Action Against Mohsin Naqvi:

The deadlock persists as Mohsin Naqvi maintains that a BCCI representative must personally collect the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC headquarters in Dubai. However, the BCCI has declined this condition and intends to raise the matter during the next ICC meeting to seek a formal resolution to the ongoing dispute.

A source from ACC told PTI said, “The BCCI secretary, BCCI's ACC representative Rajeev Shukla and representatives of other member boards including Sri Lanka Cricket and Afghanistan had written to the ACC president last week over handing the trophy to India.”

The source further said, “But his response was that someone from BCCI should come to Dubai and take the trophy from him. So that matter has still not moved. BCCI has made its stance clear that it won't be receiving the trophy from him. So the matter will most likely be decided in the ICC meeting.”

Former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, now ICC chief, oversees the ongoing issue of the Asia Cup trophy, which remains at the ACC headquarters after a controversy during the presentation. The Indian team refused to take it from Naqvi, who left with it. Naqvi also holds positions as PCB chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.

Team India refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup as a mark of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The three-week-long tournament saw the arch-rivals face each other every Sunday, drawing massive attention from fans and media across the cricketing world.