Last Updated:
Najam Sethi reveals Mohsin Naqvi’s Asia Cup withdrawal threat and his own intervention to protect Pakistan Cricket Board from major consequences.
Mohsin Naqvi speaks as former cricket board heads Najam Sethi, left, and Ramiz Raja watch (Picture credit: AP)
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi has revealed that Mohsin Naqvi had decided to withdraw from the Asia Cup and the former was told by his friends not to involve himself in the matter, but he still did, with the betterment of Pakistan cricket in mind.
According to reports, the Indian team might maintain the no handshake policy against Pakistan on Sunday, September 21, even as the latter look at the match as a grudge game.
In an interview with Samaa TV, Sethi revealed that Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Naqvi, in a fit of frustration, had threatened to pull Pakistan out of the Asia Cup after the controversial handshake incident in the league game against India.
“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,” Sethi said.
pic.twitter.com/th2OekkvzjNajam 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,…— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) September 19, 2025
“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 International Cricket Council (ICC), foreign players might have refused to play in the PSL and we stood to lose $15 million in ACC broadcasting rights,” Sethi added.
The former Pakistan Cricket Board chief said that, despite strong internal pressure to stay out, he felt compelled to step in and defuse the situation before it escalated further.
“This wasn’t about individuals. This was about the integrity of Pakistan cricket. Had Pakistan withdrawn, it could’ve led to long-term diplomatic and financial fallout,” Sethi said.
September 20, 2025, 13:13 IST
Read More
