Mohsin Naqvi’s likely presence at IPL final weekend adds edge to ICC board meetings in Ahmedabad

The upcoming ICC meetings in Ahmedabad have taken on added significance because of the uncertainty surrounding whether Mohsin Naqvi will travel to India. The ICC’s chief executives’ committee meeting is scheduled virtually on May 21, while the ICC Board meeting will be held in Ahmedabad on May 30 and 31 during the same weekend as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final.

Originally planned for Doha, the meetings were shifted to India because of the ongoing instability in West Asia. That change has placed the spotlight on Naqvi, who, besides being chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, also serves as Pakistan’s federal interior minister and president of the Asian Cricket Council.

According to a report by The Times of India journalist Gaurav Gupta, Naqvi has reportedly received an invitation to attend the IPL 2026 final, although the report noted that this could not be independently confirmed.

The possibility of his visit has attracted attention because relations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the PCB have remained strained in recent months. One major flashpoint came during the Asia Cup trophy presentation in Dubai, where reports suggested the Indian team declined to collect the trophy from Naqvi after the final. The situation reportedly ended with Naqvi leaving the venue carrying the trophy and medals, which have since remained in Dubai under PCB control.

Tensions reportedly increased further after the BCCI sought the return of the trophy and escalated the matter at the ICC level. Naqvi’s remarks suggesting that the Pakistan Super League could eventually surpass the Indian Premier League commercially also added to the friction between the two boards.

For the ICC, the Ahmedabad meetings remain part of its regular governance schedule. However, for India-Pakistan cricket relations, the central question now is whether Naqvi will attend in person, participate remotely, or whether Pakistan will send an alternative representative.