Mohsin Naqvi Set To Skip IPL 2026 Final In Ahmedabad

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is now unlikely to attend the IPL 2026 final in India despite reports earlier this week linking him with a possible visit to Ahmedabad.

The final is scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, yet the situation appears tied far more to ICC administration than cricket diplomacy. According to international cricket reports, the invitation sent to Naqvi was connected to upcoming ICC meetings rather than the title clash itself.

That changed the entire conversation around the visit.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, is expected to participate virtually instead of flying to India. Sources close to the matter believe travel arrangements are not currently being planned. Few saw this coming after speculation intensified around a possible high-profile appearance during the tournament finale.

The ICC calendar remains packed later this month. The Chief Executives’ Committee meeting is scheduled for May 21, while Board meetings are planned for May 30 and 31 in Ahmedabad. Naturally, the overlap with the IPL final pushed rumours into overdrive.

Still, officials familiar with the discussions insist the virtual format was always under consideration.

ICC Discussions Shift Focus Away From IPL Final

The upcoming ICC Board Meetings Ahmedabad are expected to centre largely on commercial matters and women’s cricket. Reports indicate there will be conversations around data monetisation, mobile gaming opportunities and long-term revenue models inside global cricket.

The proposed expansion of the World Test Championship could also return to the table during Board-level discussions. A working group led by former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose has reportedly explored the possibility of increasing participation from nine teams to 12.

Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are among the nations linked with inclusion.

That proposal, however, has triggered mixed reactions across cricket boards. Some administrators fear the percentage-based points system may create an uneven competition structure. Teams with lighter schedules could gain an advantage. You could already sense hesitation from several Full Members as debate around the format intensified.

Meanwhile, the ICC has also continued monitoring governance reforms in Sri Lanka Cricket. An ICC delegation recently travelled to Colombo following administrative restructuring under the country’s special sports legislation.

ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia were expected to hold meetings with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding those reforms.

Back in Ahmedabad, attention will still fall heavily on the IPL final itself. But the growing noise around Mohsin Naqvi IPL 2026 Final attendance now appears to be fading quickly. And with the ICC Board Meetings Ahmedabad taking priority, the political and administrative side of cricket has suddenly become the bigger story.