Najam Sethi Reveals Mohsin Naqvi’s Asia Cup 2025 Boycott Threat and Behind-the-Scenes Drama
Najam Sethi Intervenes to Prevent Crisis in Pakistan Cricket
Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi has revealed the dramatic behind-the-scenes events during the Asia Cup 2025, disclosing that he stepped in to avert a potential crisis that could have caused “irreparable” damage to Pakistan cricket.
Speaking to Samaa TV, Sethi explained that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, in a moment of frustration following the controversial handshake incident in the league match against India in Dubai, had threatened to withdraw Pakistan from the tournament.
“In the heat of the moment, Mohsin Naqvi had decided to withdraw from the Asia Cup. My friends told me, ‘Don’t go, don’t help them.’ I wasn’t even planning to help Naqvi. I went to help the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said Sethi. “If what he was attempting had succeeded, Pakistan would have suffered irreparable damage. We could have been sanctioned by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), penalised by the ICC, foreign players might have refused to play in the PSL, and we stood to lose $15 million in ACC broadcasting rights,” he added.
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— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) September 19, 2025
Najam Sethi said: Mahsin Naqvi had decided to withdraw from the Asia Cup. My friends told me, 'Don't go, don't help them.' I didn't even go to help Mahsin Naqvi. If what Mahsin Naqvi was doing had happened, Pakistan would have suffered irreparable damage,…
Emergency Meeting with Naqvi
The match carried high stakes, not only for tournament qualification but also politically, following Pakistan’s formal complaint to the ICC over alleged violations of the ‘Spirit of the Game’ by match referee Andy Pycroft. The Pakistan team was asked to remain in their hotel until the meeting concluded, which delayed the match by an hour.
