LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said categorically that any talks on sporting ties with India would be held on equal footing and that there would be no pleading for negotiations.

The suspension of bilateral sports competitions between Pakistan and India have been officially extended beyond cricket to all sports. On Thursday, India’s sports ministry issued a new policy that ends bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, even on neutral venues. However, no stoppage has been announced for engagement at multilateral tournaments, paving the way for the much-anticipated T20 Asia Cup clash between the arch-rivals next month in Dubai.

Last month, the Pakistan Sports Board asked national federations to get a formal approval before participating in sporting events scheduled to be held in India.

“I think we are very clear that whenever talks are held, they will be on an equal footing with India and there will be no more begging for negotiations. That time has passed and whatever happens [now] will be on the basis of equality,” Mohsin, who is also Federal Interior Minister, told reporters while answering a question during a press conference at the inauguration of a local cricket event in Lahore.

The strained ties between the nuclear-armed rivals peaked in May when they fought a brief but intense war in the aftermath of a deadly attack on local tourists in Pahalgam town of Indian-occupied Kashmir in April. The four-day military conflict, which further affected the already-damaged bilateral sporting ties, brought the South Asian giants to the brink of a full-fledged war.

When asked on the occasion about the national cricket team’s dismal performance in recent international matches and the need for revamp, the PCB chief hoped that the Salman Ali Agha-led squad would soon show improvement.

“I hope that the team will fight to its maximum level against India [in the Asia Cup], and God will help us. Our fans should support their team,” Mohsin said on the Sept 14 Asia Cup clash between the arch-rivals and added that “needless criticism” demotivates the players during events.

Responding to a query about the exclusion of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national T20 squad for the Asia Cup and the inclusion of some new players, the PCB chairman replied: “I do not even have a one percent role in [the] team selection.”

Underlining that there was a selection team and an advisory body, Mohsin insisted that all of them combined to review the national squad selection multiple times in long discussions.

“I have told them that whatever decision is made, it should be on the basis of merit and I will support it. Whatever lot was available to us, we polished it and took it forward. Our effort is to bring as many new people as possible so we have more competition in cricket and the best people come up,” the PCB chief stated.

The PCB chief was also asked about visa issues for sports journalists for the Asia Cup being held in the United Arab Emirates, to which he said that a cell had been set up to coordinate visa issuance and whoever needed one would be provided.

Commenting on the central contracts given to 30 players by the PCB recently, Mohsin said the reason for abolishing the ‘A’ category from the contract concerned the players’ below-par performance.

“Award will only be given on showing good performance,” he emphasised.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2025