Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has recently made strong statements regarding the future of cricketing relations between India and Pakistan, particularly in anticipation of the Asia Cup 2025. Naqvi asserted that Pakistan will no longer "beg" for negotiations with India and that any future discussions will occur on an equal footing. These comments come in the wake of India's reaffirmation that it will only engage in multi-nation tournaments with Pakistan, not in bilateral series.

Naqvi's firm stance reflects a desire for Pakistan to be seen as an equal partner in cricketing matters, despite the significant revenue disparity between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB. He emphasized that "whatever will happen will be on the basis of equality". This declaration was made during a press conference in Lahore.

The backdrop to these statements includes the long-standing suspension of bilateral cricket ties between the two nations, which extends to all sports following a recent policy issued by India's sports ministry. Despite this, India and Pakistan are set to clash in the upcoming Asia Cup and Women's ODI World Cup. The Asia Cup will be held in the UAE, with the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.

Notably, an agreement was reached earlier in the year for both teams to compete at neutral venues in International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asia Cricket Council (ACC) events until 2027. This arrangement was partly influenced by India's refusal to play in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. In return for agreeing to neutral venues, the PCB secured hosting rights for a future ICC Women's tournament.

Naqvi also addressed concerns about the performance of the Pakistani cricket team and the selection process. He expressed optimism about the team's prospects in the Asia Cup and urged fans to support the players. He clarified that he has minimal involvement in team selection, emphasizing that a dedicated selection team and advisory body are responsible for these decisions. He also mentioned that a cell has been established to coordinate visa issuance for sports journalists covering the Asia Cup.