Champions Trophy: Rajeev Shukla Attends Semifinals in Lahore with PCB Chair Naqvi
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Synopsis
On March 5, Rajeev Shukla, Vice-President of BCCI, attended the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore, highlighting efforts towards improved cricketing relations between India and Pakistan amidst prior diplomatic tensions.
Key Takeaways
- Rajeev Shukla attended the semifinal match in Lahore.
- His presence signifies potential easing of tensions between India and Pakistan.
- The match featured teams from New Zealand and South Africa.
- The PCB and BCCI are negotiating tournament hosting arrangements.
- The ‘Fusion Formula’ was introduced to address hosting disputes.
Lahore, March 5 (NationPress) The Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, was present among the cricket board officials at the second semifinal of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 between New Zealand and South Africa held at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
His attendance at this prominent match has garnered significant attention due to the ongoing diplomatic strains affecting India's involvement in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reported that representatives from five different cricket boards attended the knockout match. In addition to Shukla, notable figures included Roger Twose (New Zealand Cricket), Farooq Ahmed (Bangladesh Cricket Board), and Pholetsi Isaac Moseki and Dr. Mohammed Moosajee (both from Cricket South Africa).
PCB shared on X, "PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi attends the ICC #ChampionsTrophy semifinal at Gaddafi Stadium alongside BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla. Officials from Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe cricket boards are also witnessing the #NZvSA match." They also shared a video featuring the dignitaries enjoying the match with the PCB Chairman.
Shukla's presence holds particular importance as the BCCI had previously declined to send the Indian men’s national team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing directives from the Indian government. This decision resulted in a prolonged standoff between the BCCI and PCB, leading to extensive negotiations regarding the tournament's hosting.
This dispute ultimately led to the establishment of the ‘Fusion Formula’—a compromise proposed by the PCB, which stipulates that when either India or Pakistan hosts a multi-nation tournament over the next three years, the two rivals will compete at neutral venues, with Dubai serving as the location for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Shukla’s visit to Lahore is considered a possible step towards improving cricketing relations between the two neighboring countries. Although there has been no official update on further discussions between the BCCI and PCB during this visit, Shukla's presence in Lahore indicates a willingness for dialogue and future collaboration.
